diff --git a/communication.c b/communication.c
index 54bdf01..a919e7b 100644
--- a/communication.c
+++ b/communication.c
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@
 }
 
 // talk with kernel to receive the kernel's table
-void get_table(struct ebt_u_replace *u_repl)
+int get_table(struct ebt_u_replace *u_repl)
 {
 	int i, j, k, hook;
 	socklen_t optlen;
@@ -380,9 +380,7 @@
 	optlen = sizeof(struct ebt_replace);
 	strcpy(repl.name, u_repl->name);
 	if (getsockopt(sockfd, IPPROTO_IP, EBT_SO_GET_INFO, &repl, &optlen))
-		print_error("The %s table is not supported by the kernel,"
-		  " consider recompiling your kernel or try insmod ebt_%s",
-		  repl.name, repl.name);
+		return -1;
 
 	if ( !(repl.entries = (char *) malloc(repl.entries_size)) )
 		print_memory();
@@ -418,6 +416,7 @@
 	   &hook, &i, &j, &k, &u_e, u_repl, u_repl->valid_hooks);
 	if (k != u_repl->nentries)
 		print_bug("Wrong total nentries");
+	return 0;
 }
 
 void get_dbinfo(struct brdb_dbinfo *nr)
@@ -425,7 +424,7 @@
 	socklen_t optlen = sizeof(struct brdb_dbinfo);
 
 	get_sockfd();
-	
+
 	if (getsockopt(sockfd, IPPROTO_IP, BRDB_SO_GET_DBINFO, nr, &optlen))
 		print_error("Sorry, br_db code probably not in kernel, "
 		            "try insmod br_db");
diff --git a/include/ebtables_u.h b/include/ebtables_u.h
index 18b12b0..6b23fa3 100644
--- a/include/ebtables_u.h
+++ b/include/ebtables_u.h
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@
 void register_match(struct ebt_u_match *);
 void register_watcher(struct ebt_u_watcher *);
 void register_target(struct ebt_u_target *t);
-void get_table(struct ebt_u_replace *repl);
+int get_table(struct ebt_u_replace *repl);
 struct ebt_u_target *find_target(const char *name);
 struct ebt_u_match *find_match(const char *name);
 struct ebt_u_watcher *find_watcher(const char *name);