diff --git a/datalink.sql b/datalink.sql
index 037c245..023639a 100644
--- a/datalink.sql
+++ b/datalink.sql
@@ -890,9 +890,11 @@ begin
                   detail = url,
                   hint = 'make sure referenced file actually exists';
     end if;
-  end if; -- file link control,
+    if r.response_code > 0 then
+      link := jsonb_set(link,array['rc'],to_jsonb(r.response_code));
+    end if;
+  end if; -- file link control,  
   
-  link := jsonb_set(link,array['rc'],to_jsonb(r.response_code));
   link := dlpreviouscopy(link,has_token);
 
   if lco.integrity = 'ALL' and dlurlscheme($1)='file' then
@@ -1118,7 +1120,7 @@ begin
       raise exception 'datalink exception' 
             using errcode = 'HW000',
 	                detail = format('Can''t change link control options; %s non-null values present in column "%s"',n,my_column_name),
-                  hint = format('Perhaps you can truncate %s',my_regclass);
+                  hint = format('Perhaps you can "truncate %s"',my_regclass);
    end if;
 
    -- update fdw options with new lco
diff --git a/test/expected/link.out b/test/expected/link.out
index 0d3e32d..507fa5d 100644
--- a/test/expected/link.out
+++ b/test/expected/link.out
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ DETAIL:  unknown file volume (prefix) in /etc/passwd
 HINT:  run "pg_datalinker add" to add volumes
 CONTEXT:  PL/pgSQL function file_link(file_path,dl_token,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 14 at RAISE
 SQL statement "SELECT datalink.file_link(dlurlpathonly(link),(link->>'token')::datalink.dl_token,link_options,regclass,column_name)"
-PL/pgSQL function dl_ref(datalink,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 36 at PERFORM
+PL/pgSQL function dl_ref(datalink,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 38 at PERFORM
 PL/pgSQL function dl_trigger_table() line 49 at assignment
 insert into sample_datalinks4 (link)
 values (dlvalue('/var/www/datalink/test1.txt','FS','Sample file datalink 2'));
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ DETAIL:  unknown file volume (prefix) in /etc/hosts
 HINT:  run "pg_datalinker add" to add volumes
 CONTEXT:  PL/pgSQL function file_link(file_path,dl_token,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 14 at RAISE
 SQL statement "SELECT datalink.file_link(dlurlpathonly(link),(link->>'token')::datalink.dl_token,link_options,regclass,column_name)"
-PL/pgSQL function dl_ref(datalink,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 36 at PERFORM
+PL/pgSQL function dl_ref(datalink,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 38 at PERFORM
 PL/pgSQL function dl_trigger_table() line 49 at assignment
 insert into sample_datalinks4 (link)
 values (dlvalue('/var/www/datalink/test2.txt','FS','Sample file datalink 4'));
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ DETAIL:  unknown file volume (prefix) in /etc/passwd
 HINT:  run "pg_datalinker add" to add volumes
 CONTEXT:  PL/pgSQL function file_link(file_path,dl_token,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 14 at RAISE
 SQL statement "SELECT datalink.file_link(dlurlpathonly(link),(link->>'token')::datalink.dl_token,link_options,regclass,column_name)"
-PL/pgSQL function dl_ref(datalink,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 36 at PERFORM
+PL/pgSQL function dl_ref(datalink,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 38 at PERFORM
 PL/pgSQL function dl_trigger_table() line 49 at assignment
 insert into sample_datalinks5 (link)
 values (dlvalue('/var/www/datalink/test1.txt','FS','Sample file datalink'));
diff --git a/test/expected/linker.out b/test/expected/linker.out
index 60e84cc..5a9b5fa 100644
--- a/test/expected/linker.out
+++ b/test/expected/linker.out
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ ERROR:  datalink exception - external file already linked
 DETAIL:  from sample_datalinks6.link as '/var/www/datalink/CHANGELOG.md'
 CONTEXT:  PL/pgSQL function file_link(file_path,dl_token,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 46 at RAISE
 SQL statement "SELECT datalink.file_link(dlurlpathonly(link),(link->>'token')::datalink.dl_token,link_options,regclass,column_name)"
-PL/pgSQL function dl_ref(datalink,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 36 at PERFORM
+PL/pgSQL function dl_ref(datalink,dl_lco,regclass,name) line 38 at PERFORM
 PL/pgSQL function dl_trigger_table() line 49 at assignment
 update sample_datalinks6 set link = link2;
 NOTICE:  DATALINK UNLINK:/var/www/datalink/CHANGELOG.md
diff --git a/test/expected/other.out b/test/expected/other.out
index e4b41df..0fcc944 100644
--- a/test/expected/other.out
+++ b/test/expected/other.out
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ update datalink.column_options
  where table_name='sample_datalinks3' and column_name='link';
 ERROR:  datalink exception
 DETAIL:  Can't change link control options; 6 non-null values present in column "link"
-HINT:  Perhaps you can truncate sample_datalinks3
+HINT:  Perhaps you can "truncate sample_datalinks3"
 CONTEXT:  PL/pgSQL function modlco(regclass,name,dl_lco) line 35 at RAISE
 SQL statement "SELECT datalink.modlco(regclass(old.table_name),old.column_name,my_lco)"
 PL/pgSQL function dl_trigger_options() line 18 at PERFORM