diff --git a/compiler/res/prog8lib/diskio.p8 b/compiler/res/prog8lib/diskio.p8
index 107ef0a5f..7ff1a3838 100644
--- a/compiler/res/prog8lib/diskio.p8
+++ b/compiler/res/prog8lib/diskio.p8
@@ -460,6 +460,38 @@ io_error:
         goto done
     }
 
+    ; similar to above, but instead of fetching the entire string, it only fetches the status code and returns it as ubyte
+    ; in case of IO error, returns 255 (CBM-DOS itself is physically unable to return such a value)
+    sub status_code() -> ubyte {
+        if cbm.READST()==128 {
+            return 255
+        }
+
+        cbm.SETNAM(0, list_filename)
+        cbm.SETLFS(15, drivenumber, 15)
+        void cbm.OPEN()          ; open 15,8,15
+        if_cs
+            goto io_error
+        void cbm.CHKIN(15)        ; use #15 as input channel
+
+        list_filename[0] = cbm.CHRIN()
+        list_filename[1] = cbm.CHRIN()
+        list_filename[2] = 0
+
+        while cbm.READST()==0 {
+            cbm.CHRIN()
+        }
+
+        cbm.CLRCHN()        ; restore default i/o devices
+        cbm.CLOSE(15)
+        return conv.str2ubyte(list_filename)
+
+io_error:
+        cbm.CLRCHN()
+        cbm.CLOSE(15)
+        return 255
+    }
+
     sub save(uword filenameptr, uword start_address, uword savesize) -> bool {
         cbm.SETNAM(string.length(filenameptr), filenameptr)
         cbm.SETLFS(1, drivenumber, 0)
diff --git a/compiler/res/prog8lib/virtual/diskio.p8 b/compiler/res/prog8lib/virtual/diskio.p8
index 6a9af54d5..753145308 100644
--- a/compiler/res/prog8lib/virtual/diskio.p8
+++ b/compiler/res/prog8lib/virtual/diskio.p8
@@ -145,6 +145,12 @@ diskio {
         return "unknown"
     }
 
+    sub status_code() -> ubyte {
+        ; -- return status code instead of whole CBM-DOS status string. (in this case always 255, which means 'unable to return sensible value')
+        return 255
+    }
+
+
     sub save(uword filenameptr, uword start_address, uword savesize) -> bool {
         %ir {{
             load.b r65532,0