Check rpmtsInitDB return value. Also patches rpm.c, which actually is not used anymore. --- ./rpm.c.orig 2005-12-15 11:59:33.000000000 +0000 +++ ./rpm.c 2005-12-15 11:59:53.000000000 +0000 @@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char ** argv) break; case MODE_INITDB: - rpmdbInit(rootdir, 0644); + ec = rpmdbInit(rootdir, 0644); break; case MODE_CHECKSIG: --- ./rpmqv.c.orig 2005-12-15 13:46:45.000000000 +0000 +++ ./rpmqv.c 2005-12-15 13:47:37.000000000 +0000 @@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ int main(int argc, const char ** argv) switch (bigMode) { #ifdef IAM_RPMDB case MODE_INITDB: - (void) rpmtsInitDB(ts, 0644); + ec = rpmtsInitDB(ts, 0644); break; case MODE_REBUILDDB: