diff --git a/light8/parport.c b/light8/parport.c
--- a/light8/parport.c
+++ b/light8/parport.c
@@ -6,13 +6,15 @@
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <Python.h>
 
-void getparport() {
+int getparport() {
     if( ioperm(888,3,1) ) {
       printf("Couldn't get parallel port at 888-890\n");
 
       // the following doesn't have any effect!
       PyErr_SetString(PyExc_IOError,"Couldn't get parallel port at 888-890");
+      return 0;
     } 
+    return 1;
 }
 
 void outdata(unsigned char val) {