diff --git a/include/types/action.h b/include/types/action.h
index b8b4cd4..fd264cb 100644
--- a/include/types/action.h
+++ b/include/types/action.h
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@
 	ACT_RET_ERR,   /* processing error. */
 };
 
+enum act_parse_ret {
+	ACT_RET_PRS_OK,    /* continue processing. */
+	ACT_RET_PRS_ERR,   /* abort processing. */
+};
+
 enum act_name {
 	ACT_ACTION_CONT = 0,
 	ACT_ACTION_STOP,
@@ -134,8 +139,8 @@
 
 struct action_kw {
 	const char *kw;
-	int (*parse)(const char **args, int *cur_arg, struct proxy *px,
-	             struct act_rule *rule, char **err);
+	enum act_parse_ret (*parse)(const char **args, int *cur_arg, struct proxy *px,
+	                            struct act_rule *rule, char **err);
 	int match_pfx;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/hlua.c b/src/hlua.c
index 9ba8c54..0582070 100644
--- a/src/hlua.c
+++ b/src/hlua.c
@@ -4414,47 +4414,47 @@
 }
 
 /* tcp-request <*> configuration wrapper. */
-static int tcp_req_action_register_lua(const char **args, int *cur_arg, struct proxy *px,
-                                       struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
+static enum act_parse_ret tcp_req_action_register_lua(const char **args, int *cur_arg, struct proxy *px,
+                                                      struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
 {
 	if (!hlua_parse_rule(args, cur_arg, px, &rule->arg.hlua_rule, err))
-		return 0;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	rule->action = ACT_ACTION_CONT;
 	rule->action_ptr = hlua_tcp_req_act_wrapper;
-	return 1;
+	return ACT_RET_PRS_OK;
 }
 
 /* tcp-response <*> configuration wrapper. */
-static int tcp_res_action_register_lua(const char **args, int *cur_arg, struct proxy *px,
-                                       struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
+static enum act_parse_ret tcp_res_action_register_lua(const char **args, int *cur_arg, struct proxy *px,
+                                                      struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
 {
 	if (!hlua_parse_rule(args, cur_arg, px, &rule->arg.hlua_rule, err))
-		return 0;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	rule->action = ACT_ACTION_CONT;
 	rule->action_ptr = hlua_tcp_res_act_wrapper;
-	return 1;
+	return ACT_RET_PRS_OK;
 }
 
 /* http-request <*> configuration wrapper. */
-static int http_req_action_register_lua(const char **args, int *cur_arg, struct proxy *px,
-                                        struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
+static enum act_parse_ret http_req_action_register_lua(const char **args, int *cur_arg, struct proxy *px,
+                                                       struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
 {
 	if (!hlua_parse_rule(args, cur_arg, px, &rule->arg.hlua_rule, err))
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	rule->action = ACT_ACTION_CONT;
 	rule->action_ptr = hlua_http_req_act_wrapper;
-	return 1;
+	return ACT_RET_PRS_OK;
 }
 
 /* http-response <*> configuration wrapper. */
-static int http_res_action_register_lua(const char **args, int *cur_arg, struct proxy *px,
-                                        struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
+static enum act_parse_ret http_res_action_register_lua(const char **args, int *cur_arg, struct proxy *px,
+                                                       struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
 {
 	if (!hlua_parse_rule(args, cur_arg, px, &rule->arg.hlua_rule, err))
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	rule->action = ACT_ACTION_CONT;
 	rule->action_ptr = hlua_http_res_act_wrapper;
-	return 1;
+	return ACT_RET_PRS_OK;
 }
 
 static int hlua_read_timeout(char **args, int section_type, struct proxy *curpx,
diff --git a/src/proto_http.c b/src/proto_http.c
index 68158eb..fe84784 100644
--- a/src/proto_http.c
+++ b/src/proto_http.c
@@ -9368,7 +9368,7 @@
 		cur_arg = 1;
 		/* try in the module list */
 		rule->from = ACT_F_HTTP_REQ;
-		if (custom->parse(args, &cur_arg, proxy, rule, &errmsg) < 0) {
+		if (custom->parse(args, &cur_arg, proxy, rule, &errmsg) == ACT_RET_PRS_ERR) {
 			Alert("parsing [%s:%d] : error detected in %s '%s' while parsing 'http-request %s' rule : %s.\n",
 			      file, linenum, proxy_type_str(proxy), proxy->id, args[0], errmsg);
 			free(errmsg);
@@ -9724,7 +9724,7 @@
 		cur_arg = 1;
 		/* try in the module list */
 		rule->from = ACT_F_HTTP_RES;
-		if (custom->parse(args, &cur_arg, proxy, rule, &errmsg) < 0) {
+		if (custom->parse(args, &cur_arg, proxy, rule, &errmsg) == ACT_RET_PRS_ERR) {
 			Alert("parsing [%s:%d] : error detected in %s '%s' while parsing 'http-response %s' rule : %s.\n",
 			      file, linenum, proxy_type_str(proxy), proxy->id, args[0], errmsg);
 			free(errmsg);
@@ -12283,9 +12283,10 @@
  * All of them accept a single argument of type string representing a log-format.
  * The resulting rule makes use of arg->act.p[0..1] to store the log-format list
  * head, and p[2] to store the action as an int (0=method, 1=path, 2=query, 3=uri).
- * It returns 0 on success, < 0 on error.
+ * It returns ACT_RET_PRS_OK on success, ACT_RET_PRS_ERR on error.
  */
-int parse_set_req_line(const char **args, int *orig_arg, struct proxy *px, struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
+enum act_parse_ret parse_set_req_line(const char **args, int *orig_arg, struct proxy *px,
+                                      struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
 {
 	int cur_arg = *orig_arg;
 
@@ -12310,13 +12311,13 @@
 		break;
 	default:
 		memprintf(err, "internal error: unhandled action '%s'", args[0]);
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 
 	if (!*args[cur_arg] ||
 	    (*args[cur_arg + 1] && strcmp(args[cur_arg + 1], "if") != 0 && strcmp(args[cur_arg + 1], "unless") != 0)) {
 		memprintf(err, "expects exactly 1 argument <format>");
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 
 	LIST_INIT(&rule->arg.http.logfmt);
@@ -12326,7 +12327,7 @@
 			       proxy->conf.args.file, proxy->conf.args.line);
 
 	(*orig_arg)++;
-	return 0;
+	return ACT_RET_PRS_OK;
 }
 
 /* This function executes the "capture" action. It executes a fetch expression,
@@ -12405,9 +12406,10 @@
 /* parse an "http-request capture" action. It takes a single argument which is
  * a sample fetch expression. It stores the expression into arg->act.p[0] and
  * the allocated hdr_cap struct or the preallocated "id" into arg->act.p[1].
- * It returns 0 on success, < 0 on error.
+ * It returns ACT_RET_PRS_OK on success, ACT_RET_PRS_ERR on error.
  */
-int parse_http_req_capture(const char **args, int *orig_arg, struct proxy *px, struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
+enum act_parse_ret parse_http_req_capture(const char **args, int *orig_arg, struct proxy *px,
+                                          struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
 {
 	struct sample_expr *expr;
 	struct cap_hdr *hdr;
@@ -12421,26 +12423,26 @@
 
 	if (cur_arg < *orig_arg + 3) {
 		memprintf(err, "expects <expression> [ 'len' <length> | id <idx> ]");
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 
 	cur_arg = *orig_arg;
 	expr = sample_parse_expr((char **)args, &cur_arg, px->conf.args.file, px->conf.args.line, err, &px->conf.args);
 	if (!expr)
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 
 	if (!(expr->fetch->val & SMP_VAL_FE_HRQ_HDR)) {
 		memprintf(err,
 			  "fetch method '%s' extracts information from '%s', none of which is available here",
 			  args[cur_arg-1], sample_src_names(expr->fetch->use));
 		free(expr);
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 
 	if (!args[cur_arg] || !*args[cur_arg]) {
 		memprintf(err, "expects 'len or 'id'");
 		free(expr);
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 
 	if (strcmp(args[cur_arg], "len") == 0) {
@@ -12448,7 +12450,7 @@
 
 		if (!(px->cap & PR_CAP_FE)) {
 			memprintf(err, "proxy '%s' has no frontend capability", px->id);
-			return -1;
+			return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 		}
 
 		proxy->conf.args.ctx = ARGC_CAP;
@@ -12456,21 +12458,21 @@
 		if (!args[cur_arg]) {
 			memprintf(err, "missing length value");
 			free(expr);
-			return -1;
+			return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 		}
 		/* we copy the table name for now, it will be resolved later */
 		len = atoi(args[cur_arg]);
 		if (len <= 0) {
 			memprintf(err, "length must be > 0");
 			free(expr);
-			return -1;
+			return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 		}
 		cur_arg++;
 
 		if (!len) {
 			memprintf(err, "a positive 'len' argument is mandatory");
 			free(expr);
-			return -1;
+			return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 		}
 
 		hdr = calloc(sizeof(struct cap_hdr), 1);
@@ -12499,14 +12501,14 @@
 		if (!args[cur_arg]) {
 			memprintf(err, "missing id value");
 			free(expr);
-			return -1;
+			return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 		}
 
 		id = strtol(args[cur_arg], &error, 10);
 		if (*error != '\0') {
 			memprintf(err, "cannot parse id '%s'", args[cur_arg]);
 			free(expr);
-			return -1;
+			return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 		}
 		cur_arg++;
 
@@ -12521,11 +12523,11 @@
 	else {
 		memprintf(err, "expects 'len' or 'id', found '%s'", args[cur_arg]);
 		free(expr);
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 
 	*orig_arg = cur_arg;
-	return 0;
+	return ACT_RET_PRS_OK;
 }
 
 /* This function executes the "capture" action and store the result in a
@@ -12572,9 +12574,10 @@
 /* parse an "http-response capture" action. It takes a single argument which is
  * a sample fetch expression. It stores the expression into arg->act.p[0] and
  * the allocated hdr_cap struct od the preallocated id into arg->act.p[1].
- * It returns 0 on success, < 0 on error.
+ * It returns ACT_RET_PRS_OK on success, ACT_RET_PRS_ERR on error.
  */
-int parse_http_res_capture(const char **args, int *orig_arg, struct proxy *px, struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
+enum act_parse_ret parse_http_res_capture(const char **args, int *orig_arg, struct proxy *px,
+                                          struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
 {
 	struct sample_expr *expr;
 	int cur_arg;
@@ -12588,32 +12591,32 @@
 
 	if (cur_arg < *orig_arg + 3) {
 		memprintf(err, "expects <expression> [ 'len' <length> | id <idx> ]");
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 
 	cur_arg = *orig_arg;
 	expr = sample_parse_expr((char **)args, &cur_arg, px->conf.args.file, px->conf.args.line, err, &px->conf.args);
 	if (!expr)
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 
 	if (!(expr->fetch->val & SMP_VAL_FE_HRS_HDR)) {
 		memprintf(err,
 			  "fetch method '%s' extracts information from '%s', none of which is available here",
 			  args[cur_arg-1], sample_src_names(expr->fetch->use));
 		free(expr);
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 
 	if (!args[cur_arg] || !*args[cur_arg]) {
 		memprintf(err, "expects 'len or 'id'");
 		free(expr);
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 
 	if (strcmp(args[cur_arg], "id") != 0) {
 		memprintf(err, "expects 'id', found '%s'", args[cur_arg]);
 		free(expr);
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 
 	cur_arg++;
@@ -12621,14 +12624,14 @@
 	if (!args[cur_arg]) {
 		memprintf(err, "missing id value");
 		free(expr);
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 
 	id = strtol(args[cur_arg], &error, 10);
 	if (*error != '\0') {
 		memprintf(err, "cannot parse id '%s'", args[cur_arg]);
 		free(expr);
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	}
 	cur_arg++;
 
@@ -12640,7 +12643,7 @@
 	rule->arg.capid.idx  = id;
 
 	*orig_arg = cur_arg;
-	return 0;
+	return ACT_RET_PRS_OK;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/proto_tcp.c b/src/proto_tcp.c
index 87aeaf0..2588ac9 100644
--- a/src/proto_tcp.c
+++ b/src/proto_tcp.c
@@ -1465,7 +1465,7 @@
 		if (kw) {
 			arg++;
 			rule->from = ACT_F_TCP_RES_CNT;
-			if (!kw->parse((const char **)args, &arg, curpx, rule, err))
+			if (kw->parse((const char **)args, &arg, curpx, rule, err) == ACT_RET_PRS_ERR)
 				return -1;
 		} else {
 			memprintf(err,
@@ -1673,7 +1673,7 @@
 		}
 		if (kw) {
 			arg++;
-			if (!kw->parse((const char **)args, &arg, curpx, rule, err))
+			if (kw->parse((const char **)args, &arg, curpx, rule, err) == ACT_RET_PRS_ERR)
 				return -1;
 		} else {
 			memprintf(err,
diff --git a/src/vars.c b/src/vars.c
index 88e31a8..dec6685 100644
--- a/src/vars.c
+++ b/src/vars.c
@@ -602,59 +602,59 @@
 }
 
 /* Wrapper for parse_vars */
-static int parse_tcp_req_store(const char **args, int *arg, struct proxy *px,
-                               struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
+static enum act_parse_ret parse_tcp_req_store(const char **args, int *arg, struct proxy *px,
+                                              struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
 {
 	if (!parse_vars(args, arg, px, SMP_VAL_FE_REQ_CNT, err,
                    &rule->arg.vars.expr,
                    &rule->arg.vars.name,
                    &rule->arg.vars.scope))
-		return 0;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	rule->action       = ACT_ACTION_CONT;
 	rule->action_ptr   = action_tcp_req_store;
-	return 1;
+	return ACT_RET_PRS_OK;
 }
 
 /* Wrapper for parse_vars */
-static int parse_tcp_res_store(const char **args, int *arg, struct proxy *px,
-                         struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
+static enum act_parse_ret parse_tcp_res_store(const char **args, int *arg, struct proxy *px,
+                                              struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
 {
 	if (!parse_vars(args, arg, px, SMP_VAL_BE_RES_CNT, err,
                    &rule->arg.vars.expr,
                    &rule->arg.vars.name,
                    &rule->arg.vars.scope))
-		return 0;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	rule->action       = ACT_ACTION_CONT;
 	rule->action_ptr   = action_tcp_res_store;
-	return 1;
+	return ACT_RET_PRS_OK;
 }
 
 /* Wrapper for parse_vars */
-static int parse_http_req_store(const char **args, int *arg, struct proxy *px,
-                         struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
+static enum act_parse_ret parse_http_req_store(const char **args, int *arg, struct proxy *px,
+                                               struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
 {
 	if (!parse_vars(args, arg, px, SMP_VAL_FE_HRQ_HDR, err,
                    &rule->arg.vars.expr,
                    &rule->arg.vars.name,
                    &rule->arg.vars.scope))
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	rule->action       = ACT_ACTION_CONT;
 	rule->action_ptr   = action_http_req_store;
-	return 0;
+	return ACT_RET_PRS_OK;
 }
 
 /* Wrapper for parse_vars */
-static int parse_http_res_store(const char **args, int *arg, struct proxy *px,
-                         struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
+static enum act_parse_ret parse_http_res_store(const char **args, int *arg, struct proxy *px,
+                                               struct act_rule *rule, char **err)
 {
 	if (!parse_vars(args, arg, px, SMP_VAL_BE_HRS_HDR, err,
                    &rule->arg.vars.expr,
                    &rule->arg.vars.name,
                    &rule->arg.vars.scope))
-		return -1;
+		return ACT_RET_PRS_ERR;
 	rule->action       = ACT_ACTION_CONT;
 	rule->action_ptr   = action_http_res_store;
-	return 0;
+	return ACT_RET_PRS_OK;
 }
 
 static int vars_max_size(char **args, int section_type, struct proxy *curpx,