diff --git a/cmd/exam.go b/cmd/exam.go
index 1288d31..c0bcd5a 100644
--- a/cmd/exam.go
+++ b/cmd/exam.go
@@ -44,13 +44,17 @@ var examCmd = &cobra.Command{
 				checkup := utils.Checkup(*checkRequest)
 				fmt.Fprintf(w, "\n %s\t%d\t%d\t%v\t", checkup.Endpoint, checkup.Code, checkup.Result, checkup.Pass)
 				if checkup.Pass == false {
-					exitCode = 1
+					exitCode = 3
 				}
 			}
 		}
 		w.Flush()
 		fmt.Println()
-		defer os.Exit(exitCode)
+		if exitCode == 0 {
+			defer os.Exit(exitCode)
+		} else {
+			defer utils.CustomErrorOut("**exam failed**", exitCode)
+		}
 	},
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/listen.go b/cmd/listen.go
index e924bf5..d7b9091 100644
--- a/cmd/listen.go
+++ b/cmd/listen.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ var listenCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		if checkup.Pass {
 			defer os.Exit(0)
 		} else {
-			defer os.Exit(1)
+			defer utils.CustomErrorOut("\n**checkup failed**", 2)
 		}
 
 	},
diff --git a/test.yml b/test.yml
index f9cd03c..faaab98 100644
--- a/test.yml
+++ b/test.yml
@@ -5,4 +5,8 @@ tests:
     paths:
       - /farm
       - /something
-      - /else
\ No newline at end of file
+      - /else
+      - /pie
+      - /apple
+      - /pear
+      - /banana
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/utils/checkup.go b/utils/checkup.go
index 2661fd4..f8b7621 100644
--- a/utils/checkup.go
+++ b/utils/checkup.go
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@ package utils
 
 import (
 	"encoding/base64"
-	"fmt"
-	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
 )
@@ -27,25 +25,31 @@ type CheckupResults struct {
 // Checkup ... utility function to run one test
 func Checkup(healthForm CheckupRequest) CheckupResults {
 	request, err := http.NewRequest("GET", healthForm.Endpoint, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalln(err)
+	ErrorCheck(err)
+
+	if request.URL.Scheme == "" {
+		ErrorOut("You must use a supported protocol scheme like http or https")
 	}
+
 	request.Header.Set("User-Agent", "CheckupCli/1.0")
 	if healthForm.Auth {
 		request.Header.Add("Authorization", "Basic "+addBasicAuth(os.Getenv("CU_USER"), os.Getenv("CU_PASS")))
 		healthForm.Client.CheckRedirect = addAuthOnRedirect
 	}
+
 	resp, err := healthForm.Client.Do(request)
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Printf("error in checkup function: %v", err)
+		ErrorCheck(err)
 	}
 	defer resp.Body.Close()
+
 	results := CheckupResults{
 		Endpoint: healthForm.Endpoint,
 		Code:     healthForm.Code,
 		Result:   resp.StatusCode,
 		Pass:     resp.StatusCode == healthForm.Code,
 	}
+
 	return results
 }
 
diff --git a/utils/errorcheck.go b/utils/errorcheck.go
index 3bc1868..954541e 100644
--- a/utils/errorcheck.go
+++ b/utils/errorcheck.go
@@ -1,8 +1,25 @@
 package utils
 
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+)
+
 // ErrorCheck ... utility function to help stream line error checking
 func ErrorCheck(e error) {
 	if e != nil {
-		panic(e)
+		ErrorOut(e)
 	}
 }
+
+// ErrorOut .. function to hold the actual erroring out
+func ErrorOut(err interface{}) {
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
+	os.Exit(1)
+}
+
+// CustomErrorOut ... function to error using a custom string and exit code
+func CustomErrorOut(customErr string, customExitCode int) {
+	fmt.Println(customErr)
+	os.Exit(customExitCode)
+}