diff --git a/startup.script_common b/startup.script_common
index 49a54eb..2deee8a 100644
--- a/startup.script_common
+++ b/startup.script_common
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ putenv "EPICS_TS_FORCE_NTPTIME=YES"
 EPICS_APP = PVA ? "softIocPVA.munch" : "softIoc.munch"
 sprintf STRINGBUFFER, "/epics/base-%s/bin/%s/%s", EPICS+1, EPICS_HOST_ARCH, EPICS_APP
 printf "loading %s\n",STRINGBUFFER
-ld 0, 0, STRINGBUFFER
+sprintf STRINGBUFFER,"%s",ld(0,0,STRINGBUFFER)?"":"shellScriptAbort"
+execute STRINGBUFFER
 
 # Setup Time (must be set after loading iocCoreLibrary.munch)
 # 2023: