diff --git a/src/_h5ai/server/php/inc/core/class-api.php b/src/_h5ai/server/php/inc/core/class-api.php
index ccd987bb..fb635398 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/server/php/inc/core/class-api.php
+++ b/src/_h5ai/server/php/inc/core/class-api.php
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ class Api {
         header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream");
         header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=\"$as\"");
         header("Connection: close");
-        $rc = $archive->output($type, $base_href, $hrefs);
+        $ok = $archive->output($type, $base_href, $hrefs);
 
-        Util::json_fail(Util::ERR_FAILED, "packaging failed", $rc !== 0);
+        Util::json_fail(Util::ERR_FAILED, "packaging failed", !$ok);
         exit;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/_h5ai/server/php/inc/ext/class-archive.php b/src/_h5ai/server/php/inc/ext/class-archive.php
index c710c947..9ad70a8c 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/server/php/inc/ext/class-archive.php
+++ b/src/_h5ai/server/php/inc/ext/class-archive.php
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class Archive {
 
         $this->base_path = $this->app->to_path($base_href);
         if (!$this->app->is_managed_path($this->base_path)) {
-            return 500;
+            return false;
         }
 
         $this->dirs = [];
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class Archive {
 
             return $this->shell_cmd(Archive::$ZIP_PASSTHRU_CMD);
         }
-        return 500;
+        return false;
     }
 
 
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ class Archive {
         try {
             Util::passthru_cmd($cmd);
         } catch (Exeption $err) {
-            return 500;
+            return false;
         }
-        return 0;
+        return true;
     }
 
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class Archive {
             }
         }
 
-        return 0;
+        return true;
     }