diff --git a/g10/gpg.c b/g10/gpg.c
index 36e65425b..75060b821 100644
--- a/g10/gpg.c
+++ b/g10/gpg.c
@@ -2196,8 +2196,8 @@ check_user_ids (strlist_t *sp,
 
       /* Continue the search.  */
       err = keydb_search (hd, &desc, 1, NULL);
-      if (! (gpg_err_code (err) == GPG_ERR_NOT_FOUND
-             || gpg_err_code (err) == GPG_ERR_EOF))
+      if (! err)
+        /* Another result!  */
         {
           char fingerprint_bin2[MAX_FINGERPRINT_LEN];
           size_t fingerprint_bin2_len = sizeof (fingerprint_bin2);
@@ -2208,6 +2208,9 @@ check_user_ids (strlist_t *sp,
           if (!opt.quiet)
             log_info (_("(check argument of option '%s')\n"), option);
 
+          if (! rc)
+            rc = GPG_ERR_CONFLICT;
+
           err = keydb_get_keyblock (hd, &kb);
           if (err)
             log_error (_("error reading key block for '%s': %s.\n"),
@@ -2225,6 +2228,15 @@ check_user_ids (strlist_t *sp,
               release_kbnode (kb);
             }
         }
+      else if (! (gpg_err_code (err) == GPG_ERR_NOT_FOUND
+                  || gpg_err_code (err) == GPG_ERR_EOF))
+        /* An error (other than "not found").  */
+        {
+          log_error (_("Error reading from keyring: %s\n"),
+                     gpg_strerror (err));
+          if (! rc)
+            rc = err;
+        }
     }
 
   strlist_rev (&s2);