diff --git a/adb/adb_client.cpp b/adb/adb_client.cpp
index 0f64998..e07c92c 100644
--- a/adb/adb_client.cpp
+++ b/adb/adb_client.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
 #include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <base/stringprintf.h>
 
 #include "adb_io.h"
 
@@ -63,10 +66,11 @@
         /* if no specific device was specified, we need to look at */
         /* the list of connected devices, and extract an emulator  */
         /* name from it. two emulators is an error                 */
-        char*  tmp = adb_query("host:devices");
+        std::string error;
+        char*  tmp = adb_query("host:devices", &error);
         char*  p   = tmp;
-        if(!tmp) {
-            printf("no emulator connected\n");
+        if (!tmp) {
+            printf("no emulator connected: %s\n", error.c_str());
             return -1;
         }
         while (*p) {
@@ -101,15 +105,11 @@
     return port;
 }
 
-static char __adb_error[256] = { 0 };
-
-const char *adb_error(void)
-{
-    return __adb_error;
+std::string perror_str(const char* msg) {
+    return android::base::StringPrintf("%s: %s", msg, strerror(errno));
 }
 
-static int switch_socket_transport(int fd)
-{
+static int switch_socket_transport(int fd, std::string* error) {
     std::string service;
     if (__adb_serial) {
         service += "host:transport:";
@@ -137,70 +137,64 @@
     char tmp[5];
     snprintf(tmp, sizeof(tmp), "%04zx", service.size());
     if (!WriteFdExactly(fd, tmp, 4) || !WriteFdExactly(fd, service.c_str(), service.size())) {
-        strcpy(__adb_error, "write failure during connection");
+        *error = perror_str("write failure during connection");
         adb_close(fd);
         return -1;
     }
     D("Switch transport in progress\n");
 
-    if (adb_status(fd)) {
+    if (!adb_status(fd, error)) {
         adb_close(fd);
-        D("Switch transport failed\n");
+        D("Switch transport failed: %s\n", error->c_str());
         return -1;
     }
     D("Switch transport success\n");
     return 0;
 }
 
-int adb_status(int fd)
-{
-    unsigned char buf[5];
-    unsigned len;
+bool adb_status(int fd, std::string* error) {
+    char buf[5];
 
-    if(!ReadFdExactly(fd, buf, 4)) {
-        strcpy(__adb_error, "protocol fault (no status)");
-        return -1;
+    if (!ReadFdExactly(fd, buf, 4)) {
+        *error = perror_str("protocol fault (couldn't read status)");
+        return false;
     }
 
-    if(!memcmp(buf, "OKAY", 4)) {
-        return 0;
+    if (!memcmp(buf, "OKAY", 4)) {
+        return true;
     }
 
-    if(memcmp(buf, "FAIL", 4)) {
-        sprintf(__adb_error,
-                "protocol fault (status %02x %02x %02x %02x?!)",
-                buf[0], buf[1], buf[2], buf[3]);
-        return -1;
+    if (memcmp(buf, "FAIL", 4)) {
+        *error = android::base::StringPrintf("protocol fault (status %02x %02x %02x %02x?!)",
+                                             buf[0], buf[1], buf[2], buf[3]);
+        return false;
     }
 
-    if(!ReadFdExactly(fd, buf, 4)) {
-        strcpy(__adb_error, "protocol fault (status len)");
-        return -1;
+    if (!ReadFdExactly(fd, buf, 4)) {
+        *error = perror_str("protocol fault (couldn't read status length)");
+        return false;
     }
     buf[4] = 0;
-    len = strtoul((char*)buf, 0, 16);
-    if(len > 255) len = 255;
-    if(!ReadFdExactly(fd, __adb_error, len)) {
-        strcpy(__adb_error, "protocol fault (status read)");
-        return -1;
+
+    unsigned long len = strtoul(buf, 0, 16);
+    error->resize(len + 1, '\0'); // Ensure NUL-termination.
+    if (!ReadFdExactly(fd, &(*error)[0], len)) {
+        *error = perror_str("protocol fault (couldn't read status message)");
     }
-    __adb_error[len] = 0;
-    return -1;
+    return false;
 }
 
-int _adb_connect(const char *service)
-{
+int _adb_connect(const char *service, std::string* error) {
     char tmp[5];
-    int len;
     int fd;
 
     D("_adb_connect: %s\n", service);
-    len = strlen(service);
-    if((len < 1) || (len > 1024)) {
-        strcpy(__adb_error, "service name too long");
+    size_t len = strlen(service);
+    if ((len < 1) || (len > 1024)) {
+        *error = android::base::StringPrintf("service name too long (%zd)", len);
         return -1;
     }
-    snprintf(tmp, sizeof tmp, "%04x", len);
+    snprintf(tmp, sizeof tmp, "%04zx", len);
 
     if (__adb_server_name)
         fd = socket_network_client(__adb_server_name, __adb_server_port, SOCK_STREAM);
@@ -208,21 +202,21 @@
         fd = socket_loopback_client(__adb_server_port, SOCK_STREAM);
 
     if(fd < 0) {
-        strcpy(__adb_error, "cannot connect to daemon");
+        *error = perror_str("cannot connect to daemon");
         return -2;
     }
 
-    if (memcmp(service,"host",4) != 0 && switch_socket_transport(fd)) {
+    if (memcmp(service,"host",4) != 0 && switch_socket_transport(fd, error)) {
         return -1;
     }
 
     if(!WriteFdExactly(fd, tmp, 4) || !WriteFdExactly(fd, service, len)) {
-        strcpy(__adb_error, "write failure during connection");
+        *error = perror_str("write failure during connection");
         adb_close(fd);
         return -1;
     }
 
-    if(adb_status(fd)) {
+    if (!adb_status(fd, error)) {
         adb_close(fd);
         return -1;
     }
@@ -231,20 +225,19 @@
     return fd;
 }
 
-int adb_connect(const char *service)
-{
+int adb_connect(const char* service, std::string* error) {
     // first query the adb server's version
-    int fd = _adb_connect("host:version");
+    int fd = _adb_connect("host:version", error);
 
     D("adb_connect: service %s\n", service);
-    if(fd == -2 && __adb_server_name) {
+    if (fd == -2 && __adb_server_name) {
         fprintf(stderr,"** Cannot start server on remote host\n");
         return fd;
-    } else if(fd == -2) {
+    } else if (fd == -2) {
         fprintf(stdout,"* daemon not running. starting it now on port %d *\n",
                 __adb_server_port);
     start_server:
-        if(launch_server(__adb_server_port)) {
+        if (launch_server(__adb_server_port)) {
             fprintf(stderr,"* failed to start daemon *\n");
             return -1;
         } else {
@@ -260,7 +253,7 @@
         int version = ADB_SERVER_VERSION - 1;
 
         // if we have a file descriptor, then parse version result
-        if(fd >= 0) {
+        if (fd >= 0) {
             if(!ReadFdExactly(fd, buf, 4)) goto error;
 
             buf[4] = 0;
@@ -273,13 +266,14 @@
         } else {
             // if fd is -1, then check for "unknown host service",
             // which would indicate a version of adb that does not support the version command
-            if (strcmp(__adb_error, "unknown host service") != 0)
+            if (*error == "unknown host service") {
                 return fd;
+            }
         }
 
         if(version != ADB_SERVER_VERSION) {
             printf("adb server is out of date.  killing...\n");
-            fd = _adb_connect("host:kill");
+            fd = _adb_connect("host:kill", error);
             adb_close(fd);
 
             /* XXX can we better detect its death? */
@@ -289,12 +283,13 @@
     }
 
     // if the command is start-server, we are done.
-    if (!strcmp(service, "host:start-server"))
+    if (!strcmp(service, "host:start-server")) {
         return 0;
+    }
 
-    fd = _adb_connect(service);
-    if(fd == -1) {
-        D("_adb_connect error: %s", __adb_error);
+    fd = _adb_connect(service, error);
+    if (fd == -1) {
+        D("_adb_connect error: %s", error->c_str());
     } else if(fd == -2) {
         fprintf(stderr,"** daemon still not running\n");
     }
@@ -307,15 +302,14 @@
 }
 
 
-int adb_command(const char *service)
-{
-    int fd = adb_connect(service);
-    if(fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "error: %s\n", adb_error());
+int adb_command(const char* service, std::string* error) {
+    int fd = adb_connect(service, error);
+    if (fd < 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "error: %s\n", error->c_str());
         return -1;
     }
 
-    if(adb_status(fd)) {
+    if (!adb_status(fd, error)) {
         adb_close(fd);
         return -1;
     }
@@ -323,25 +317,25 @@
     return 0;
 }
 
-char *adb_query(const char *service)
-{
+char* adb_query(const char* service, std::string* error) {
     char buf[5];
     unsigned long n;
     char* tmp;
 
     D("adb_query: %s\n", service);
-    int fd = adb_connect(service);
-    if(fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", __adb_error);
+    int fd = adb_connect(service, error);
+    if (fd < 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", error->c_str());
         return 0;
     }
 
-    if(!ReadFdExactly(fd, buf, 4)) goto oops;
+    if (!ReadFdExactly(fd, buf, 4)) goto oops;
 
     buf[4] = 0;
     n = strtoul(buf, 0, 16);
-    if(n >= 0xffff) {
-        strcpy(__adb_error, "reply is too long (>= 64kB)");
+    // TODO: given that we just read a 4-byte hex length 0x????, why the test?
+    if (n >= 0xffff) {
+        *error = "reply is too long (>= 64KiB)";
         goto oops;
     }
 
diff --git a/adb/adb_client.h b/adb/adb_client.h
index 934362a..5ce7080 100644
--- a/adb/adb_client.h
+++ b/adb/adb_client.h
@@ -3,23 +3,25 @@
 
 #include "adb.h"
 
+#include <string>
+
 /* connect to adb, connect to the named service, and return
 ** a valid fd for interacting with that service upon success
 ** or a negative number on failure
 */
-int adb_connect(const char *service);
-int _adb_connect(const char *service);
+int adb_connect(const char* service, std::string* error);
+int _adb_connect(const char* service, std::string* error);
 
 /* connect to adb, connect to the named service, return 0 if
 ** the connection succeeded AND the service returned OKAY
 */
-int adb_command(const char *service);
+int adb_command(const char* service, std::string* error);
 
 /* connect to adb, connect to the named service, return
 ** a malloc'd string of its response upon success or NULL
 ** on failure.
 */
-char *adb_query(const char *service);
+char* adb_query(const char* service, std::string* error);
 
 /* Set the preferred transport to connect to.
 */
@@ -45,13 +47,9 @@
  */
 int  adb_send_emulator_command(int  argc, const char**  argv);
 
-/* return verbose error string from last operation */
-const char *adb_error(void);
-
-/* read a standard adb status response (OKAY|FAIL) and
-** return 0 in the event of OKAY, -1 in the event of FAIL
-** or protocol error
-*/
-int adb_status(int fd);
+// Reads a standard adb status response (OKAY|FAIL) and
+// returns true in the event of OKAY, false in the event of FAIL
+// or protocol error.
+bool adb_status(int fd, std::string* error);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/adb/commandline.cpp b/adb/commandline.cpp
index e59a96a..b5015ea 100644
--- a/adb/commandline.cpp
+++ b/adb/commandline.cpp
@@ -410,11 +410,12 @@
 
 static int interactive_shell() {
     adb_thread_t thr;
-    int fdi, fd;
+    int fdi;
 
-    fd = adb_connect("shell:");
-    if(fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", adb_error());
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect("shell:", &error);
+    if (fd < 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", error.c_str());
         return 1;
     }
     fdi = 0; //dup(0);
@@ -452,16 +453,17 @@
 }
 
 static int adb_download_buffer(const char *service, const char *fn, const void* data, int sz,
-                               unsigned progress)
+                               bool show_progress)
 {
     char buf[4096];
     unsigned total;
-    int fd;
 
     sprintf(buf,"%s:%d", service, sz);
-    fd = adb_connect(buf);
-    if(fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", adb_error());
+
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect(buf, &error);
+    if (fd < 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", error.c_str());
         return -1;
     }
 
@@ -471,26 +473,27 @@
     total = sz;
     const uint8_t* ptr = reinterpret_cast<const uint8_t*>(data);
 
-    if(progress) {
+    if (show_progress) {
         char *x = strrchr(service, ':');
         if(x) service = x + 1;
     }
 
     while(sz > 0) {
         unsigned xfer = (sz > CHUNK_SIZE) ? CHUNK_SIZE : sz;
-        if(!WriteFdExactly(fd, ptr, xfer)) {
-            adb_status(fd);
-            fprintf(stderr,"* failed to write data '%s' *\n", adb_error());
+        if (!WriteFdExactly(fd, ptr, xfer)) {
+            std::string error;
+            adb_status(fd, &error);
+            fprintf(stderr,"* failed to write data '%s' *\n", error.c_str());
             return -1;
         }
         sz -= xfer;
         ptr += xfer;
-        if(progress) {
+        if (show_progress) {
             printf("sending: '%s' %4d%%    \r", fn, (int)(100LL - ((100LL * sz) / (total))));
             fflush(stdout);
         }
     }
-    if(progress) {
+    if (show_progress) {
         printf("\n");
     }
 
@@ -549,12 +552,13 @@
 
     char buf[100];
     sprintf(buf, "sideload-host:%d:%d", sz, SIDELOAD_HOST_BLOCK_SIZE);
-    int fd = adb_connect(buf);
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect(buf, &error);
     if (fd < 0) {
         // Try falling back to the older sideload method.  Maybe this
         // is an older device that doesn't support sideload-host.
         printf("\n");
-        status = adb_download_buffer("sideload", fn, data, sz, 1);
+        status = adb_download_buffer("sideload", fn, data, sz, true);
         goto done;
     }
 
@@ -562,7 +566,7 @@
 
     while (true) {
         if (!ReadFdExactly(fd, buf, 8)) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "* failed to read command: %s\n", adb_error());
+            fprintf(stderr, "* failed to read command: %s\n", strerror(errno));
             status = -1;
             goto done;
         }
@@ -577,7 +581,7 @@
 
         size_t offset = block * SIDELOAD_HOST_BLOCK_SIZE;
         if (offset >= sz) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "* attempt to read past end: %s\n", adb_error());
+            fprintf(stderr, "* attempt to read block %d past end\n", block);
             status = -1;
             goto done;
         }
@@ -589,8 +593,8 @@
         }
 
         if(!WriteFdExactly(fd, start, to_write)) {
-            adb_status(fd);
-            fprintf(stderr,"* failed to write data '%s' *\n", adb_error());
+            adb_status(fd, &error);
+            fprintf(stderr,"* failed to write data '%s' *\n", error.c_str());
             status = -1;
             goto done;
         }
@@ -636,21 +640,22 @@
 
     format_host_command(command, sizeof command, "get-state", ttype, serial);
 
-    for(;;) {
+    while (true) {
         adb_sleep_ms(250);
 
-        if(state) {
+        if (state) {
             free(state);
             state = 0;
         }
 
-        state = adb_query(command);
+        std::string error;
+        state = adb_query(command, &error);
 
-        if(state) {
-            if(laststate && !strcmp(state,laststate)){
+        if (state) {
+            if (laststate && !strcmp(state,laststate)){
                 continue;
             } else {
-                if(laststate) free(laststate);
+                if (laststate) free(laststate);
                 laststate = strdup(state);
             }
         }
@@ -674,9 +679,6 @@
     fprintf(stderr, "error: adb %s not implemented on Win32\n", argv[0]);
     return -1;
 #else
-    pid_t pid;
-    int fd;
-
     if (argc < 2) {
         fprintf(stderr, "usage: adb %s <adb service name> [ppp opts]\n",
                 argv[0]);
@@ -685,15 +687,15 @@
     }
 
     const char* adb_service_name = argv[1];
-    fd = adb_connect(adb_service_name);
-
-    if(fd < 0) {
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect(adb_service_name, &error);
+    if (fd < 0) {
         fprintf(stderr,"Error: Could not open adb service: %s. Error: %s\n",
-                adb_service_name, adb_error());
+                adb_service_name, error.c_str());
         return 1;
     }
 
-    pid = fork();
+    pid_t pid = fork();
 
     if (pid < 0) {
         perror("from fork()");
@@ -738,9 +740,11 @@
                               const std::string& command) {
     int fd;
     while (true) {
-        fd = adb_connect(command.c_str());
-        if (fd >= 0)
+        std::string error;
+        fd = adb_connect(command.c_str(), &error);
+        if (fd >= 0) {
             break;
+        }
         fprintf(stderr,"- waiting for device -\n");
         adb_sleep_ms(1000);
         do_cmd(transport, serial, "wait-for-device", 0);
@@ -830,9 +834,10 @@
     }
 
     D("backup. filename=%s cmd=%s\n", filename, cmd.c_str());
-    int fd = adb_connect(cmd.c_str());
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect(cmd.c_str(), &error);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "adb: unable to connect for backup\n");
+        fprintf(stderr, "adb: unable to connect for backup: %s\n", error.c_str());
         adb_close(outFd);
         return -1;
     }
@@ -846,21 +851,19 @@
 }
 
 static int restore(int argc, const char** argv) {
-    const char* filename;
-    int fd, tarFd;
-
     if (argc != 2) return usage();
 
-    filename = argv[1];
-    tarFd = adb_open(filename, O_RDONLY);
+    const char* filename = argv[1];
+    int tarFd = adb_open(filename, O_RDONLY);
     if (tarFd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "adb: unable to open file %s\n", filename);
+        fprintf(stderr, "adb: unable to open file %s: %s\n", filename, strerror(errno));
         return -1;
     }
 
-    fd = adb_connect("restore:");
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect("restore:", &error);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "adb: unable to connect for restore\n");
+        fprintf(stderr, "adb: unable to connect for restore: %s\n", error.c_str());
         adb_close(tarFd);
         return -1;
     }
@@ -962,13 +965,14 @@
 }
 
 static int adb_connect_command(const char* command) {
-    int fd = adb_connect(command);
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect(command, &error);
     if (fd != -1) {
         read_and_dump(fd);
         adb_close(fd);
         return 0;
     }
-    fprintf(stderr, "Error: %s\n", adb_error());
+    fprintf(stderr, "Error: %s\n", error.c_str());
     return 1;
 }
 
@@ -1127,9 +1131,10 @@
 
         format_host_command(buf, sizeof buf, service, ttype, serial);
 
-        if (adb_command(buf)) {
-            D("failure: %s *\n",adb_error());
-            fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", adb_error());
+        std::string error;
+        if (adb_command(buf, &error)) {
+            D("failure: %s *\n", error.c_str());
+            fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", error.c_str());
             return 1;
         }
 
@@ -1158,7 +1163,8 @@
             return 1;
         }
         snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "host:%s%s", argv[0], listopt);
-        tmp = adb_query(buf);
+        std::string error;
+        tmp = adb_query(buf, &error);
         if (tmp) {
             printf("List of devices attached \n");
             printf("%s\n", tmp);
@@ -1174,7 +1180,8 @@
             return 1;
         }
         snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "host:connect:%s", argv[1]);
-        tmp = adb_query(buf);
+        std::string error;
+        tmp = adb_query(buf, &error);
         if (tmp) {
             printf("%s\n", tmp);
             return 0;
@@ -1193,7 +1200,8 @@
         } else {
             snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "host:disconnect:");
         }
-        tmp = adb_query(buf);
+        std::string error;
+        tmp = adb_query(buf, &error);
         if (tmp) {
             printf("%s\n", tmp);
             return 0;
@@ -1232,7 +1240,8 @@
 
         while (true) {
             D("interactive shell loop. cmd=%s\n", cmd.c_str());
-            int fd = adb_connect(cmd.c_str());
+            std::string error;
+            int fd = adb_connect(cmd.c_str(), &error);
             int r;
             if (fd >= 0) {
                 D("about to read_and_dump(fd=%d)\n", fd);
@@ -1241,7 +1250,7 @@
                 adb_close(fd);
                 r = 0;
             } else {
-                fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", adb_error());
+                fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", error.c_str());
                 r = -1;
             }
 
@@ -1270,9 +1279,10 @@
             cmd += " " + escape_arg(*argv++);
         }
 
-        int fd = adb_connect(cmd.c_str());
+        std::string error;
+        int fd = adb_connect(cmd.c_str(), &error);
         if (fd < 0) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "error: %s\n", adb_error());
+            fprintf(stderr, "error: %s\n", error.c_str());
             return -1;
         }
 
@@ -1286,8 +1296,8 @@
         return 0;
     }
     else if (!strcmp(argv[0], "kill-server")) {
-        int fd;
-        fd = _adb_connect("host:kill");
+        std::string error;
+        int fd = _adb_connect("host:kill", &error);
         if (fd == -1) {
             fprintf(stderr,"* server not running *\n");
             return 1;
@@ -1378,9 +1388,10 @@
             if (argc != 1)
                 return usage();
             snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "%s:list-forward", host_prefix);
-            char* forwards = adb_query(buf);
+            std::string error;
+            char* forwards = adb_query(buf, &error);
             if (forwards == NULL) {
-                fprintf(stderr, "error: %s\n", adb_error());
+                fprintf(stderr, "error: %s\n", error.c_str());
                 return 1;
             }
             printf("%s", forwards);
@@ -1412,8 +1423,9 @@
           snprintf(buf, sizeof buf, "%s:%s:%s;%s", host_prefix, command, argv[1], argv[2]);
         }
 
-        if (adb_command(buf)) {
-            fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", adb_error());
+        std::string error;
+        if (adb_command(buf, &error)) {
+            fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", error.c_str());
             return 1;
         }
         return 0;
@@ -1511,10 +1523,9 @@
         !strcmp(argv[0],"get-serialno") ||
         !strcmp(argv[0],"get-devpath"))
     {
-        char *tmp;
-
         format_host_command(buf, sizeof buf, argv[0], ttype, serial);
-        tmp = adb_query(buf);
+        std::string error;
+        char* tmp = adb_query(buf, &error);
         if (tmp) {
             printf("%s\n", tmp);
             return 0;
@@ -1534,7 +1545,8 @@
         return ppp(argc, argv);
     }
     else if (!strcmp(argv[0], "start-server")) {
-        return adb_connect("host:start-server");
+        std::string error;
+        return adb_connect("host:start-server", &error);
     }
     else if (!strcmp(argv[0], "backup")) {
         return backup(argc, argv);
@@ -1742,9 +1754,10 @@
     }
 
     // Create install session
-    int fd = adb_connect(cmd.c_str());
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect(cmd.c_str(), &error);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "Connect error for create: %s\n", adb_error());
+        fprintf(stderr, "Connect error for create: %s\n", error.c_str());
         return -1;
     }
     char buf[BUFSIZ];
@@ -1788,14 +1801,15 @@
 
         int localFd = adb_open(file, O_RDONLY);
         if (localFd < 0) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to open %s: %s\n", file, adb_error());
+            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to open %s: %s\n", file, strerror(errno));
             success = 0;
             goto finalize_session;
         }
 
-        int remoteFd = adb_connect(cmd.c_str());
+        std::string error;
+        int remoteFd = adb_connect(cmd.c_str(), &error);
         if (remoteFd < 0) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "Connect error for write: %s\n", adb_error());
+            fprintf(stderr, "Connect error for write: %s\n", error.c_str());
             adb_close(localFd);
             success = 0;
             goto finalize_session;
@@ -1823,9 +1837,9 @@
         snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "exec:pm install-abandon %d", session_id);
     }
 
-    fd = adb_connect(buf);
+    fd = adb_connect(buf, &error);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "Connect error for finalize: %s\n", adb_error());
+        fprintf(stderr, "Connect error for finalize: %s\n", error.c_str());
         return -1;
     }
     read_status_line(fd, buf, sizeof(buf));
diff --git a/adb/file_sync_client.cpp b/adb/file_sync_client.cpp
index 49d8783..aded301 100644
--- a/adb/file_sync_client.cpp
+++ b/adb/file_sync_client.cpp
@@ -539,11 +539,11 @@
     printf("%08x %08x %08x %s\n", mode, size, time, name);
 }
 
-int do_sync_ls(const char *path)
-{
-    int fd = adb_connect("sync:");
-    if(fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", adb_error());
+int do_sync_ls(const char* path) {
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect("sync:", &error);
+    if (fd < 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", error.c_str());
         return 1;
     }
 
@@ -743,11 +743,11 @@
 {
     struct stat st;
     unsigned mode;
-    int fd;
 
-    fd = adb_connect("sync:");
-    if(fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", adb_error());
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect("sync:", &error);
+    if (fd < 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", error.c_str());
         return 1;
     }
 
@@ -967,11 +967,10 @@
     unsigned mode, time;
     struct stat st;
 
-    int fd;
-
-    fd = adb_connect("sync:");
-    if(fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", adb_error());
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect("sync:", &error);
+    if (fd < 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr,"error: %s\n", error.c_str());
         return 1;
     }
 
@@ -1031,9 +1030,10 @@
 {
     fprintf(stderr, "syncing %s...\n", rpath.c_str());
 
-    int fd = adb_connect("sync:");
+    std::string error;
+    int fd = adb_connect("sync:", &error);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "error: %s\n", adb_error());
+        fprintf(stderr, "error: %s\n", error.c_str());
         return 1;
     }