diff --git a/repos/os/include/vfs/file_io_service.h b/repos/os/include/vfs/file_io_service.h
index 28b42fc5fd..ab90e4be6e 100644
--- a/repos/os/include/vfs/file_io_service.h
+++ b/repos/os/include/vfs/file_io_service.h
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ struct Vfs::File_io_service : Interface
 	 ** Sync **
 	 **********/
 
-	enum Sync_result { SYNC_QUEUED, SYNC_OK };
+	enum Sync_result { SYNC_QUEUED, SYNC_ERR_INVALID, SYNC_OK };
 
 	/**
 	 * Queue sync operation
diff --git a/repos/os/include/vfs/print.h b/repos/os/include/vfs/print.h
index 8f7bc1d281..cb5f80581f 100644
--- a/repos/os/include/vfs/print.h
+++ b/repos/os/include/vfs/print.h
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ static inline void print(Genode::Output &output, Vfs::File_io_service::Sync_resu
 	switch (r) {
 	CASE_PRINT(SYNC_OK);
 	CASE_PRINT(SYNC_QUEUED);
+	CASE_PRINT(SYNC_ERR_INVALID);
 	}
 
 #undef CASE_PRINT
diff --git a/repos/os/src/lib/vfs/fs_file_system.h b/repos/os/src/lib/vfs/fs_file_system.h
index 0339e2937e..8b6adaa0cd 100644
--- a/repos/os/src/lib/vfs/fs_file_system.h
+++ b/repos/os/src/lib/vfs/fs_file_system.h
@@ -211,12 +211,15 @@ class Vfs::Fs_file_system : public File_system
 
 				::File_system::Session::Tx::Source &source = *_fs.tx();
 
+				Sync_result result = packet.succeeded()
+					? SYNC_OK : SYNC_ERR_INVALID;
+
 				queued_sync_state  = Handle_state::Queued_state::IDLE;
 				queued_sync_packet = ::File_system::Packet_descriptor();
 
 				source.release_packet(packet);
 
-				return SYNC_OK;
+				return result;
 			}
 		};
 
diff --git a/repos/os/src/server/vfs/main.cc b/repos/os/src/server/vfs/main.cc
index a979e15dec..d05185a5c6 100644
--- a/repos/os/src/server/vfs/main.cc
+++ b/repos/os/src/server/vfs/main.cc
@@ -227,8 +227,7 @@ class Vfs_server::Session_component : public File_system::Session_rpc_object,
 				 */
 				try {
 					_apply(packet.handle(), [&] (Io_node &node) {
-						node.sync();
-						succeeded = true;
+						succeeded = node.sync();
 					});
 				} catch (Operation_incomplete) {
 					throw Not_ready();
diff --git a/repos/os/src/server/vfs/node.h b/repos/os/src/server/vfs/node.h
index 2b499af113..c02d22b575 100644
--- a/repos/os/src/server/vfs/node.h
+++ b/repos/os/src/server/vfs/node.h
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ class Vfs_server::Io_node : public  Vfs_server::Node,
 
 		bool notify_read_ready() const { return _notify_read_ready; }
 
-		void sync()
+		bool sync()
 		{
 			typedef Vfs::File_io_service::Sync_result Result;
 			Result out_result = Result::SYNC_OK;
@@ -288,7 +288,10 @@ class Vfs_server::Io_node : public  Vfs_server::Node,
 				switch (out_result) {
 				case Result::SYNC_OK:
 					op_state = Op_state::IDLE;
-					return;
+					return true;
+
+				case Result::SYNC_ERR_INVALID:
+					return false;
 
 				case Result::SYNC_QUEUED:
 					op_state = Op_state::SYNC_QUEUED;
@@ -299,6 +302,7 @@ class Vfs_server::Io_node : public  Vfs_server::Node,
 			case Op_state::READ_QUEUED:
 				throw Operation_incomplete();
 			}
+			return false;
 		}
 };