diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3da43065..42152378 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # Clixon CHANGELOG
 
+* When user callbacks such as statedata() call returns -1, clixon_backend no
+  longer silently exits. Instead a log is printed and an RPC error is returned.
+
 * Support for non-line scrolling in CLI, eg wrap lines. Set with:
   CLICON_CLI_LINESCROLLING 0
 
diff --git a/apps/backend/backend_client.c b/apps/backend/backend_client.c
index 39f1cb39..9f0c805e 100644
--- a/apps/backend/backend_client.c
+++ b/apps/backend/backend_client.c
@@ -988,8 +988,17 @@ from_client_msg(clicon_handle        h,
 		goto done;
 	}
 	else{
-	    if ((ret = backend_rpc_cb_call(h, xe, ce, cbret)) < 0)
-		goto done;
+	    clicon_err_reset();
+	    if ((ret = backend_rpc_cb_call(h, xe, ce, cbret)) < 0){
+		cprintf(cbret, "<rpc-reply><rpc-error>"
+			"<error-tag>operation-failed</error-tag>"
+			"<error-type>rpc</error-type>"
+			"<error-severity>error</error-severity>"
+			"<error-message>Internal error:%s</error-message>"
+			"</rpc-error></rpc-reply>", clicon_err_reason);
+		clicon_log(LOG_NOTICE, "%s Error in backend_rpc_call:%s", __FUNCTION__, xml_name(xe));
+		goto reply; /* Dont quit here on user callbacks */
+	    }
 	    if (ret == 0) /* not handled by callback */
 		cprintf(cbret, "<rpc-reply><rpc-error>"
 			"<error-tag>operation-failed</error-tag>"
diff --git a/apps/backend/clixon_backend_handle.c b/apps/backend/clixon_backend_handle.c
index aec2c292..142b63cd 100644
--- a/apps/backend/clixon_backend_handle.c
+++ b/apps/backend/clixon_backend_handle.c
@@ -505,8 +505,10 @@ backend_rpc_cb_call(clicon_handle        h,
     rc = rpc_cb_list;
     do {
 	if (strcmp(rc->rc_tag, xml_name(xe)) == 0){
-	    if ((retval = rc->rc_callback(h, xe, ce, cbret, rc->rc_arg)) < 0)
+	    if ((retval = rc->rc_callback(h, xe, ce, cbret, rc->rc_arg)) < 0){
+		clicon_debug(1, "%s Error in: %s", __FUNCTION__, rc->rc_tag);
 		goto done;
+	    }
 	    else{
 		retval = 1; /* handled */
 		goto done;