--- BDB/BDB.xs	2008/01/13 09:43:21	1.30
+++ BDB/BDB.xs	2008/03/30 04:34:20	1.31
@@ -956,6 +956,42 @@
   sv_setiv (SvRV (sv), 0);
 }
 
+static int
+errno_get (pTHX_ SV *sv, MAGIC *mg)
+{
+  if (*mg->mg_ptr == '!') // should always be the case
+    if (-30999 <= errno && errno <= -30800)
+      {
+        sv_setpv (sv, db_strerror (errno));
+        return 0;
+      }
+
+  return PL_vtbl_sv.svt_get (aTHX_ sv, mg);
+}
+
+static MGVTBL vtbl_errno;
+
+// this wonderful hack :( patches perl's $! variable to support our errno values
+static void
+patch_errno (void)
+{
+  SV *sv;
+  MAGIC *mg;
+
+  if (!(sv = get_sv ("!", 1)))
+    return;
+
+  if (!(mg = mg_find (sv, PERL_MAGIC_sv)))
+    return;
+
+  if (mg->mg_virtual != &PL_vtbl_sv)
+    return;
+
+  vtbl_errno = PL_vtbl_sv;
+  vtbl_errno.svt_get = errno_get;
+  mg->mg_virtual = &vtbl_errno;
+}
+
 MODULE = BDB                PACKAGE = BDB
 
 PROTOTYPES: ENABLE
@@ -1161,6 +1197,7 @@
 
         X_COND_CHECK  (reqwait);
 #endif
+        patch_errno ();
 }
 
 void
@@ -2047,3 +2084,4 @@
 	OUTPUT:
         RETVAL
 
+