diff --git a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
index b09a50a..9f60592 100644
--- a/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
+++ b/dotdrop/dotdrop.py
@@ -169,11 +169,13 @@ def _dotfile_compare(opts, dotfile, tmp):
     if tmpsrc:
         tmpsrc = os.path.join(opts.dotpath, tmpsrc)
         if os.path.exists(tmpsrc):
-            removepath(tmpsrc, LOG)
+            # ignore error
+            removepath(tmpsrc, logger=LOG)
 
     # clean tmp template dotfile if any
     if insttmp and os.path.exists(insttmp):
-        removepath(insttmp, LOG)
+        # ignore error
+        removepath(insttmp, logger=LOG)
 
     if diff != '':
         # print diff results
@@ -258,7 +260,8 @@ def _dotfile_install(opts, dotfile, tmpdir=None):
         if tmp:
             tmp = os.path.join(opts.dotpath, tmp)
             if os.path.exists(tmp):
-                removepath(tmp, LOG)
+                # ignore error
+                removepath(tmp, logger=LOG)
 
     # check result of installation
     if ret:
@@ -322,6 +325,7 @@ def cmd_install(opts):
         for root, _, files in os.walk(opts.workdir):
             for file in files:
                 fpath = os.path.join(root, file)
+                # ignore error
                 removepath(fpath, logger=LOG)
 
     # execute profile pre-action
@@ -721,7 +725,7 @@ def cmd_remove(opts):
 
             # remove dotfile from dotpath
             dtpath = os.path.join(opts.dotpath, dotfile.src)
-            removepath(dtpath, LOG)
+            removepath(dtpath, logger=LOG)
             # remove empty directory
             parent = os.path.dirname(dtpath)
             # remove any empty parent up to dotpath
@@ -730,7 +734,8 @@ def cmd_remove(opts):
                     msg = f'Remove empty dir \"{parent}\"'
                     if opts.safe and not LOG.ask(msg):
                         break
-                    removepath(parent, LOG)
+                    if not removepath(parent, logger=LOG):
+                        LOG.warn(f'unable to remove {parent}')
                 parent = os.path.dirname(parent)
             removed.append(dotfile)
 
@@ -833,7 +838,8 @@ def apply_install_trans(dotpath, dotfile, templater, debug=False):
         msg += f'failed for {dotfile.key}'
         LOG.err(msg)
         if new_src and os.path.exists(new_src):
-            removepath(new_src, LOG)
+            # ignore error
+            removepath(new_src, logger=LOG)
         return None
     return new_src
 
@@ -873,7 +879,8 @@ def _exec_command(opts):
             tmp = get_tmpdir()
             ret = cmd_compare(opts, tmp)
             # clean tmp directory
-            removepath(tmp, LOG)
+            # ignore any error
+            removepath(tmp, logger=LOG)
 
         elif opts.cmd_import:
             # import dotfile(s)
diff --git a/dotdrop/importer.py b/dotdrop/importer.py
index 602598f..5d91484 100644
--- a/dotdrop/importer.py
+++ b/dotdrop/importer.py
@@ -328,6 +328,7 @@ class Importer:
             msg = f'transformation \"{trans.key}\" failed for {path}'
             self.log.err(msg)
             if os.path.exists(tmp):
+                # ignore error
                 removepath(tmp, logger=self.log)
             return None
         return tmp
diff --git a/dotdrop/installer.py b/dotdrop/installer.py
index 0e96c41..be3c238 100644
--- a/dotdrop/installer.py
+++ b/dotdrop/installer.py
@@ -700,8 +700,9 @@ class Installer:
             if self.safe:
                 if not self.log.ask(f'remove unmanaged \"{path}\"'):
                     return
-            self.log.dbg(f'removing not managed: {path}')
-            removepath(path, logger=self.log)
+            self.log.dbg(f'removing unmanaged file \"{path}\"')
+            if not removepath(path, logger=self.log):
+                self.log.warn('unable to remove {path}')
 
     @classmethod
     def _write_content_to_file(cls, content, src, dst):
@@ -825,6 +826,7 @@ class Installer:
         if ret:
             self.log.dbg('content differ')
         if content:
+            # ignore error
             removepath(tmp)
         return ret
 
@@ -841,6 +843,7 @@ class Installer:
         diff = diffit(modified=src, original=dst,
                       diff_cmd=self.diff_cmd)
         if tmp:
+            # ignore error
             removepath(tmp, logger=self.log)
 
         if diff:
diff --git a/dotdrop/uninstaller.py b/dotdrop/uninstaller.py
index de5e2dd..c33c99f 100644
--- a/dotdrop/uninstaller.py
+++ b/dotdrop/uninstaller.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class Uninstaller:
     def _remove_path(self, path):
         """remove a file"""
         try:
-            removepath(path, self.log)
+            removepath(path)
         except OSError as exc:
             err = f'removing \"{path}\" failed: {exc}'
             return False, err
diff --git a/dotdrop/updater.py b/dotdrop/updater.py
index 8ceeb39..e482237 100644
--- a/dotdrop/updater.py
+++ b/dotdrop/updater.py
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ class Updater:
 
         # clean temporary files
         if new_path != deployed_path and os.path.exists(new_path):
+            # ignore error
             removepath(new_path, logger=self.log)
         return ret
 
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ class Updater:
         if not trans.transform(path, tmp, templater=self.templater,
                                debug=self.debug):
             if os.path.exists(tmp):
+                # ignore error
                 removepath(tmp, logger=self.log)
             err = f'transformation \"{trans.key}\" failed for {dotfile.key}'
             self.log.err(err)
@@ -259,6 +261,7 @@ class Updater:
     def _handle_dir(self, deployed_path, local_path,
                     dotfile, ignores):
         """sync path (local dir) and local_path (dotdrop dir path)"""
+        ret = True
         self.log.dbg(f'handle update for dir {deployed_path} to {local_path}')
 
         # get absolute paths
@@ -282,7 +285,11 @@ class Updater:
             self.log.dbg(f'rm -r {path}')
             if not self._confirm_rm_r(path):
                 continue
-            removepath(path, logger=self.log)
+            if not removepath(path, logger=self.log):
+                msg = f'unable to remove {path}, do manually'
+                self.log.warn(msg)
+                ret = False
+                continue
             self.log.sub(f'\"{path}\" removed')
 
         ignore_missing_in_dotdrop = self.ignore_missing_in_dotdrop or \
@@ -306,6 +313,7 @@ class Updater:
                     msg = f'{srcpath} update right only failed'
                     msg += f', do manually: {exc}'
                     self.log.warn(msg)
+                    ret = False
                     continue
                 self.log.sub(f'\"{dstpath}\" updated')
 
@@ -332,10 +340,10 @@ class Updater:
             except IOError as exc:
                 msg = f'{srcpath} update common failed, do manually: {exc}'
                 self.log.warn(msg)
+                ret = False
                 continue
             self.log.sub(f'\"{dstpath}\" content updated')
-
-        return True
+        return ret
 
     def _overwrite(self, src, dst):
         """ask for overwritting"""
diff --git a/dotdrop/utils.py b/dotdrop/utils.py
index f83c64c..1dc01ae 100644
--- a/dotdrop/utils.py
+++ b/dotdrop/utils.py
@@ -153,26 +153,24 @@ def get_unique_tmp_name():
     return os.path.join(tmpdir, unique)
 
 
-def removepath(path, logger=None):
+def removepath(path, logger=None): # TODO
     """
     remove a file/directory/symlink
-    if logger is defined, OSError are catched
-    and printed to logger.warn instead of being forwarded
-    as OSError
+    raises OSError in case of error
+    unless logger is defined.
+
+    When logger is defined, a logger.warn
+    is printed and a boolean returned
     """
     if not path:
-        return
+        return True
     if not os.path.lexists(path):
-        err = f'File not found: {path}'
-        if logger:
-            logger.warn(err)
-            return
-        raise OSError(err)
+        return True
     if os.path.normpath(os.path.expanduser(path)) in NOREMOVE:
         err = f'Dotdrop refuses to remove {path}'
         if logger:
             logger.warn(err)
-            return
+            return False
         LOG.err(err)
         raise OSError(err)
     if logger:
@@ -189,8 +187,9 @@ def removepath(path, logger=None):
         err = str(exc)
         if logger:
             logger.warn(err)
-            return
+            return False
         raise OSError(err) from exc
+    return True
 
 
 def samefile(path1, path2):