diff --git a/src/devices/machine/k056230.cpp b/src/devices/machine/k056230.cpp
index ae7c8625d0b7c..d6529bafb5e5b 100644
--- a/src/devices/machine/k056230.cpp
+++ b/src/devices/machine/k056230.cpp
@@ -197,12 +197,19 @@ void k056230_device::comm_tick()
 {
 	if (m_linkenable == 0x01)
 	{
+		std::error_condition filerr;
+
 		// check rx socket
 		if (!m_line_rx)
 		{
 			osd_printf_verbose("k056230: listen on %s\n", m_localhost);
 			uint64_t filesize; // unused
-			osd_file::open(m_localhost, OPEN_FLAG_CREATE, m_line_rx, filesize);
+			filerr = osd_file::open(m_localhost, OPEN_FLAG_CREATE, m_line_rx, filesize);
+			if (filerr.value() != 0)
+			{
+				osd_printf_verbose("k056230: rx connection failed\n");
+				m_line_rx.reset();
+			}
 		}
 
 		// check tx socket
@@ -210,7 +217,12 @@ void k056230_device::comm_tick()
 		{
 			osd_printf_verbose("k056230: connect to %s\n", m_remotehost);
 			uint64_t filesize; // unused
-			osd_file::open(m_remotehost, 0, m_line_tx, filesize);
+			filerr = osd_file::open(m_remotehost, 0, m_line_tx, filesize);
+			if (filerr.value() != 0)
+			{
+				osd_printf_verbose("k056230: tx connection failed\n");
+				m_line_tx.reset();
+			}
 		}
 
 		// if both sockets are there check ring
@@ -312,9 +324,17 @@ int k056230_device::read_frame(int dataSize)
 					togo -= recv;
 					offset += recv;
 				}
-				else if (filerr && filerr.value() != 0)
+				switch (filerr.value())
 				{
-					togo = 0;
+					case 0x00:
+					case 0x8c:
+						// 00 - no error
+						// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
+						break;
+
+					default:
+						togo = 0;
+						break;
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -323,8 +343,10 @@ int k056230_device::read_frame(int dataSize)
 	{
 		case 0x00:
 		case 0x8c:
+			// 00 - no error
+			// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
 			break;
-			
+
 		default:
 			osd_printf_verbose("k056230: rx connection lost %08x %s\n", filerr.value(), filerr.message());
 			m_line_rx.reset();
@@ -342,7 +364,7 @@ void k056230_device::send_frame(int dataSize)
 	std::uint32_t written;
 
 	filerr = m_line_tx->write(&m_buffer0, 0, dataSize, written);
-	if (filerr && filerr.value() != 0)
+	if (filerr.value() != 0)
 	{
 		osd_printf_verbose("k056230: tx connection lost %08x %s\n", filerr.value(), filerr.message());
 		m_line_tx.reset();
diff --git a/src/mame/sega/m1comm.cpp b/src/mame/sega/m1comm.cpp
index 6771229dc9250..62504e8cb6f3a 100644
--- a/src/mame/sega/m1comm.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/sega/m1comm.cpp
@@ -315,6 +315,8 @@ void m1comm_device::comm_tick()
 {
 	if (m_linkenable == 0x01)
 	{
+		std::error_condition filerr;
+
 		int frameStart = 0x0010;
 		int frameOffset = 0x0000;
 		int frameSize = 0x01c4;
@@ -342,7 +344,12 @@ void m1comm_device::comm_tick()
 			{
 				osd_printf_verbose("M1COMM: listen on %s\n", m_localhost);
 				uint64_t filesize; // unused
-				osd_file::open(m_localhost, OPEN_FLAG_CREATE, m_line_rx, filesize);
+				filerr = osd_file::open(m_localhost, OPEN_FLAG_CREATE, m_line_rx, filesize);
+				if (filerr.value() != 0)
+				{
+					osd_printf_verbose("M1COMM: rx connection failed\n");
+					m_line_rx.reset();
+				}
 			}
 
 			// check tx socket
@@ -350,7 +357,12 @@ void m1comm_device::comm_tick()
 			{
 				osd_printf_verbose("M1COMM: connect to %s\n", m_remotehost);
 				uint64_t filesize; // unused
-				osd_file::open(m_remotehost, 0, m_line_tx, filesize);
+				filerr = osd_file::open(m_remotehost, 0, m_line_tx, filesize);
+				if (filerr.value() != 0)
+				{
+					osd_printf_verbose("M1COMM: tx connection failed\n");
+					m_line_tx.reset();
+				}
 			}
 
 			// if both sockets are there check ring
@@ -581,26 +593,39 @@ int m1comm_device::read_frame(int dataSize)
 					togo -= recv;
 					offset += recv;
 				}
-				else if (!filerr && recv == 0)
+				switch (filerr.value())
 				{
-					togo = 0;
+					case 0x00:
+					case 0x8c:
+						// 00 - no error
+						// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
+						break;
+
+					default:
+						togo = 0;
+						break;
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	else if (!filerr && recv == 0)
+	switch (filerr.value())
 	{
-		if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
-		{
-			osd_printf_verbose("M1COMM: rx connection lost\n");
-			m_linkalive = 0x02;
-			m_linktimer = 0x00;
-
-			m_shared[0] = 0xff;
+		case 0x00:
+		case 0x8c:
+			// 00 - no error
+			// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
+			break;
 
+		default:
+			osd_printf_verbose("M1COMM: rx connection lost\n");
 			m_line_rx.reset();
-			m_line_tx.reset();
-		}
+			if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
+			{
+				m_linkalive = 0x02;
+				m_linktimer = 0x00;
+				m_shared[0] = 0xff;
+			}
+			break;
 	}
 	return recv;
 }
@@ -623,18 +648,15 @@ void m1comm_device::send_frame(int dataSize){
 	std::uint32_t written;
 
 	filerr = m_line_tx->write(&m_buffer0, 0, dataSize, written);
-	if (filerr)
+	if (filerr.value() != 0)
 	{
+		osd_printf_verbose("M1COMM: tx connection lost\n");
+		m_line_tx.reset();
 		if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
 		{
-			osd_printf_verbose("M1COMM: tx connection lost\n");
 			m_linkalive = 0x02;
 			m_linktimer = 0x00;
-
 			m_shared[0] = 0xff;
-
-			m_line_rx.reset();
-			m_line_tx.reset();
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/mame/sega/m2comm.cpp b/src/mame/sega/m2comm.cpp
index f590e0d3edbfd..a04f3d775cfbd 100644
--- a/src/mame/sega/m2comm.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/sega/m2comm.cpp
@@ -342,6 +342,8 @@ void m2comm_device::comm_tick()
 {
 	if (m_linkenable == 0x01)
 	{
+		std::error_condition filerr;
+
 		int frameStart = 0x2000;
 		int frameSize = m_shared[0x13] << 8 | m_shared[0x12];
 		int frameOffset = frameStart | m_shared[0x15] << 8 | m_shared[0x14];
@@ -374,7 +376,12 @@ void m2comm_device::comm_tick()
 			{
 				osd_printf_verbose("M2COMM: listen on %s\n", m_localhost);
 				uint64_t filesize; // unused
-				osd_file::open(m_localhost, OPEN_FLAG_CREATE, m_line_rx, filesize);
+				filerr = osd_file::open(m_localhost, OPEN_FLAG_CREATE, m_line_rx, filesize);
+				if (filerr.value() != 0)
+				{
+					osd_printf_verbose("M2COMM: rx connection failed\n");
+					m_line_rx.reset();
+				}
 			}
 
 			// check tx socket
@@ -382,7 +389,12 @@ void m2comm_device::comm_tick()
 			{
 				osd_printf_verbose("M2COMM: connect to %s\n", m_remotehost);
 				uint64_t filesize; // unused
-				osd_file::open(m_remotehost, 0, m_line_tx, filesize);
+				filerr = osd_file::open(m_remotehost, 0, m_line_tx, filesize);
+				if (filerr.value() != 0)
+				{
+					osd_printf_verbose("M2COMM: tx connection failed\n");
+					m_line_tx.reset();
+				}
 			}
 
 			// if both sockets are there check ring
@@ -653,22 +665,38 @@ int m2comm_device::read_frame(int dataSize)
 					togo -= recv;
 					offset += recv;
 				}
-				else if (!filerr && recv == 0)
+				switch (filerr.value())
 				{
-					togo = 0;
+					case 0x00:
+					case 0x8c:
+						// 00 - no error
+						// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
+						break;
+
+					default:
+						togo = 0;
+						break;
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	else if (!filerr && recv == 0)
+	switch (filerr.value())
 	{
-		if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
-		{
+		case 0x00:
+		case 0x8c:
+			// 00 - no error
+			// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
+			break;
+
+		default:
 			osd_printf_verbose("M2COMM: rx connection lost\n");
-			m_linkalive = 0x02;
-			m_linktimer = 0x00;
 			m_line_rx.reset();
-		}
+			if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
+			{
+				m_linkalive = 0x02;
+				m_linktimer = 0x00;
+			}
+			break;
 	}
 	return recv;
 }
@@ -691,14 +719,14 @@ void m2comm_device::send_frame(int dataSize){
 	std::uint32_t written;
 
 	filerr = m_line_tx->write(&m_buffer0, 0, dataSize, written);
-	if (filerr)
+	if (filerr.value() != 0)
 	{
+		osd_printf_verbose("M2COMM: tx connection lost\n");
+		m_line_tx.reset();
 		if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
 		{
-			osd_printf_verbose("M2COMM: tx connection lost\n");
 			m_linkalive = 0x02;
 			m_linktimer = 0x00;
-			m_line_tx.reset();
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/mame/sega/s32comm.cpp b/src/mame/sega/s32comm.cpp
index 667b6c50541e7..bd9a4c59a2cd8 100644
--- a/src/mame/sega/s32comm.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/sega/s32comm.cpp
@@ -287,22 +287,38 @@ int s32comm_device::read_frame(int dataSize)
 					togo -= recv;
 					offset += recv;
 				}
-				else if (!filerr && recv == 0)
+				switch (filerr.value())
 				{
-					togo = 0;
+					case 0x00:
+					case 0x8c:
+						// 00 - no error
+						// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
+						break;
+
+					default:
+						togo = 0;
+						break;
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	else if (!filerr && recv == 0)
+	switch (filerr.value())
 	{
-		if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
-		{
+		case 0x00:
+		case 0x8c:
+			// 00 - no error
+			// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
+			break;
+
+		default:
 			osd_printf_verbose("S32COMM: rx connection lost\n");
-			m_linkalive = 0x02;
-			m_linktimer = 0x00;
 			m_line_rx.reset();
-		}
+			if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
+			{
+				m_linkalive = 0x02;
+				m_linktimer = 0x00;
+			}
+			break;
 	}
 	return recv;
 }
@@ -326,14 +342,14 @@ void s32comm_device::send_frame(int dataSize){
 	std::uint32_t written;
 
 	filerr = m_line_tx->write(&m_buffer0, 0, dataSize, written);
-	if (filerr)
+	if (filerr.value() != 0)
 	{
+		osd_printf_verbose("S32COMM: tx connection lost\n");
+		m_line_tx.reset();
 		if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
 		{
-			osd_printf_verbose("S32COMM: tx connection lost\n");
 			m_linkalive = 0x02;
 			m_linktimer = 0x00;
-			m_line_tx.reset();
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/mame/sega/xbdcomm.cpp b/src/mame/sega/xbdcomm.cpp
index 7284a296c9363..0d18083a518c0 100644
--- a/src/mame/sega/xbdcomm.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/sega/xbdcomm.cpp
@@ -308,6 +308,8 @@ void xbdcomm_device::comm_tick()
 {
 	if (m_linkenable == 0x01)
 	{
+		std::error_condition filerr;
+
 		uint8_t cabIdx = mpc_mem_r(0x4000);
 		uint8_t cabCnt = mpc_mem_r(0x4001);
 
@@ -366,7 +368,12 @@ void xbdcomm_device::comm_tick()
 			{
 				osd_printf_verbose("XBDCOMM: listen on %s\n", m_localhost);
 				uint64_t filesize; // unused
-				osd_file::open(m_localhost, OPEN_FLAG_CREATE, m_line_rx, filesize);
+				filerr = osd_file::open(m_localhost, OPEN_FLAG_CREATE, m_line_rx, filesize);
+				if (filerr.value() != 0)
+				{
+					osd_printf_verbose("XBDCOMM: rx connection failed\n");
+					m_line_rx.reset();
+				}
 			}
 
 			// check tx socket
@@ -374,7 +381,12 @@ void xbdcomm_device::comm_tick()
 			{
 				osd_printf_verbose("XBDCOMM: connect to %s\n", m_remotehost);
 				uint64_t filesize; // unused
-				osd_file::open(m_remotehost, 0, m_line_tx, filesize);
+				filerr = osd_file::open(m_remotehost, 0, m_line_tx, filesize);
+				if (filerr.value() != 0)
+				{
+					osd_printf_verbose("XBDCOMM: tx connection failed\n");
+					m_line_tx.reset();
+				}
 			}
 
 			// if both sockets are there check ring
@@ -559,26 +571,39 @@ int xbdcomm_device::read_frame(int dataSize)
 					togo -= recv;
 					offset += recv;
 				}
-				else if (!filerr && recv == 0)
+				switch (filerr.value())
 				{
-					togo = 0;
+					case 0x00:
+					case 0x8c:
+						// 00 - no error
+						// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
+						break;
+
+					default:
+						togo = 0;
+						break;
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	else if (!filerr && recv == 0)
+	switch (filerr.value())
 	{
-		if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
-		{
-			osd_printf_verbose("XBDCOMM: rx connection lost\n");
-			m_linkalive = 0x02;
-			m_linktimer = 0x00;
-
-			m_z80_stat = 0xff;
+		case 0x00:
+		case 0x8c:
+			// 00 - no error
+			// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
+			break;
 
+		default:
+			osd_printf_verbose("XBDCOMM: rx connection lost\n");
 			m_line_rx.reset();
-			m_line_tx.reset();
-		}
+			if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
+			{
+				m_linkalive = 0x02;
+				m_linktimer = 0x00;
+				m_z80_stat = 0xff;
+			}
+			break;
 	}
 	return recv;
 }
@@ -601,18 +626,15 @@ void xbdcomm_device::send_frame(int dataSize){
 	std::uint32_t written;
 
 	filerr = m_line_tx->write(&m_buffer0, 0, dataSize, written);
-	if (filerr)
+	if (filerr.value() != 0)
 	{
+		osd_printf_verbose("XBDCOMM: tx connection lost\n");
+		m_line_tx.reset();
 		if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
 		{
-			osd_printf_verbose("XBDCOMM: tx connection lost\n");
 			m_linkalive = 0x02;
 			m_linktimer = 0x00;
-
 			m_z80_stat = 0xff;
-
-			m_line_rx.reset();
-			m_line_tx.reset();
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/mame/sega/ybdcomm.cpp b/src/mame/sega/ybdcomm.cpp
index d6a1f1ab054c3..af6f7652cf892 100644
--- a/src/mame/sega/ybdcomm.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/sega/ybdcomm.cpp
@@ -396,6 +396,7 @@ void ybdcomm_device::comm_tick()
 {
 	if (m_linkenable == 0x01)
 	{
+		std::error_condition filerr;
 		uint8_t cabIdx = mpc_mem_r(0x4000);
 
 		int frameSize;
@@ -425,7 +426,12 @@ void ybdcomm_device::comm_tick()
 			{
 				osd_printf_verbose("YBDCOMM: listen on %s\n", m_localhost);
 				uint64_t filesize; // unused
-				osd_file::open(m_localhost, OPEN_FLAG_CREATE, m_line_rx, filesize);
+				filerr = osd_file::open(m_localhost, OPEN_FLAG_CREATE, m_line_rx, filesize);
+				if (filerr.value() != 0)
+				{
+					osd_printf_verbose("YBDCOMM: rx connection failed\n");
+					m_line_rx.reset();
+				}
 			}
 
 			// check tx socket
@@ -433,7 +439,12 @@ void ybdcomm_device::comm_tick()
 			{
 				osd_printf_verbose("YBDCOMM: connect to %s\n", m_remotehost);
 				uint64_t filesize; // unused
-				osd_file::open(m_remotehost, 0, m_line_tx, filesize);
+				filerr = osd_file::open(m_remotehost, 0, m_line_tx, filesize);
+				if (filerr.value() != 0)
+				{
+					osd_printf_verbose("YBDCOMM: tx connection failed\n");
+					m_line_tx.reset();
+				}
 			}
 
 			// if both sockets are there check ring
@@ -624,26 +635,39 @@ int ybdcomm_device::read_frame(int dataSize)
 					togo -= recv;
 					offset += recv;
 				}
-				else if (!filerr && recv == 0)
+				switch (filerr.value())
 				{
-					togo = 0;
+					case 0x00:
+					case 0x8c:
+						// 00 - no error
+						// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
+						break;
+
+					default:
+						togo = 0;
+						break;
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	else if (!filerr && recv == 0)
+	switch (filerr.value())
 	{
-		if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
-		{
-			osd_printf_verbose("YBDCOMM: rx connection lost\n");
-			m_linkalive = 0x02;
-			m_linktimer = 0x00;
-
-			m_z80_stat = 0xff;
+		case 0x00:
+		case 0x8c:
+			// 00 - no error
+			// 8c - unknown error (read behind eof?)
+			break;
 
+		default:
+			osd_printf_verbose("YBDCOMM: rx connection lost\n");
 			m_line_rx.reset();
-			m_line_tx.reset();
-		}
+			if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
+			{
+				m_linkalive = 0x02;
+				m_linktimer = 0x00;
+				m_z80_stat = 0xff;
+			}
+			break;
 	}
 	return recv;
 }
@@ -667,18 +691,15 @@ void ybdcomm_device::send_frame(int dataSize)
 	std::uint32_t written;
 
 	filerr = m_line_tx->write(&m_buffer0, 0, dataSize, written);
-	if (filerr)
+	if (filerr.value() != 0)
 	{
+		osd_printf_verbose("YBDCOMM: tx connection lost\n");
+		m_line_tx.reset();
 		if (m_linkalive == 0x01)
 		{
-			osd_printf_verbose("YBDCOMM: tx connection lost\n");
 			m_linkalive = 0x02;
 			m_linktimer = 0x00;
-
 			m_z80_stat = 0xff;
-
-			m_line_rx.reset();
-			m_line_tx.reset();
 		}
 	}
 }