diff --git a/borg.conf b/borg.conf
index 1650104..bda7c1f 100644
--- a/borg.conf
+++ b/borg.conf
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@ REPOSITORY={{borg_account}}@{{ borg_server }}:{{ borg_remote_dir }}/{{ ansible_h
 export BORG_PASSPHRASE={{ borg_passphrase }}
 borg=/usr/bin/borg
 rotate={{ borg_rotate }}
-src="{{ borg_dirs }}"
\ No newline at end of file
+src="{{ borg_dirs }}"
+statusfile=/run/zabbix/borg.status
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/borg.sh b/borg.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 92633ff..6e7ae97
--- a/borg.sh
+++ b/borg.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,17 @@
 #! /bin/bash
+set -euo pipefail
 
 # wrapper around borgbackup
 # need a borg.conf file - see example file
+# alternate conf file can be passed through BORG_CONF env variable
 # need passwordless ssh access if using remote repo
-conf=$(dirname $0)/borg.conf
+
+if [ -v BORG_CONF ] ; then
+  conf=$BORG_CONF
+else
+  conf=$(dirname $0)/borg.conf
+fi
+
 if [ ! -f $conf ] ; then
    echo config file not found
    exit 5
@@ -15,11 +23,11 @@ TODAY=$(date "+%Y%m%d")
 
 case $1 in
    ("list")
-      if [ ! -z $2 ] ; then
-         ${borg} list $options ${REPOSITORY}::${2}
+      if [ -v 2 ] ; then
+         ${borg} list  ${REPOSITORY}::${2}
       ret=$?
       else
-         ${borg} list $options $REPOSITORY
+         ${borg} list  $REPOSITORY
       ret=$?
       fi
       ;;
@@ -46,10 +54,11 @@ case $1 in
       ret=$?
       ;;
    (*)
-      ${borg} create $options --compression lzma,5 $REPOSITORY::$(hostname)_${TODAY} ${src}
+      ${borg} create  --compression lzma,5 $REPOSITORY::$(hostname)_${TODAY} ${src}
       ret=$?
+		test -d $(dirname $statusfile) && echo $ret > $statusfile
       if [ $ret -eq 0 ] ; then
-         ${borg} prune $options $REPOSITORY --prefix $(hostname)_ --keep-daily=${rotate}
+         ${borg} prune  $REPOSITORY --prefix $(hostname)_ --keep-daily=${rotate}
       fi
       ;;
 esac