diff --git a/cmd/sonictool/app/chain.go b/cmd/sonictool/app/chain.go
index 9896502ce..e6047e13f 100644
--- a/cmd/sonictool/app/chain.go
+++ b/cmd/sonictool/app/chain.go
@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@ package app
 import (
 	"compress/gzip"
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/cmd/sonictool/db"
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/cmd/sonictool/db"
+	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/utils/caution"
+
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/cmd/sonictool/chain"
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/config/flags"
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/lachesis-base/inter/idx"
@@ -16,12 +18,12 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/urfave/cli.v1"
 )
 
-func exportEvents(ctx *cli.Context) error {
+func exportEvents(ctx *cli.Context) (err error) {
 	if len(ctx.Args()) < 1 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("this command requires an argument - the output file")
 	}
 
-	fn := ctx.Args().First()
+	filename := ctx.Args().First()
 
 	dataDir := ctx.GlobalString(flags.DataDirFlag.Name)
 	if dataDir == "" {
@@ -29,16 +31,18 @@ func exportEvents(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 
 	// Open the file handle and potentially wrap with a gzip stream
-	fh, err := os.OpenFile(fn, os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY|os.O_TRUNC, os.ModePerm)
+	fileHandler, err := os.OpenFile(filename, os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY|os.O_TRUNC, os.ModePerm)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return
 	}
-	defer fh.Close()
+	defer caution.CloseAndReportError(&err, fileHandler, fmt.Sprintf("failed to close file %v", filename))
 
-	var writer io.Writer = fh
-	if strings.HasSuffix(fn, ".gz") {
+	var writer io.Writer = fileHandler
+	if strings.HasSuffix(filename, ".gz") {
 		writer = gzip.NewWriter(writer)
-		defer writer.(*gzip.Writer).Close()
+		defer caution.CloseAndReportError(&err,
+			writer.(*gzip.Writer),
+			fmt.Sprintf("failed to close gzip writer for file %v", filename))
 	}
 
 	from := idx.Epoch(1)
@@ -64,13 +68,13 @@ func exportEvents(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		ArchiveCache: ctx.GlobalInt64(flags.ArchiveCacheFlag.Name),
 	}
 
-	log.Info("Exporting events to file", "file", fn)
+	log.Info("Exporting events to file", "file", filename)
 	err = chain.ExportEvents(gdbParams, writer, from, to)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("export error: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	return
 }
 
 func importEvents(ctx *cli.Context) error {
diff --git a/cmd/sonictool/app/cli.go b/cmd/sonictool/app/cli.go
index 424d505dc..a22512467 100644
--- a/cmd/sonictool/app/cli.go
+++ b/cmd/sonictool/app/cli.go
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@ package app
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/config/flags"
+	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/utils/caution"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/console"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
 	"gopkg.in/urfave/cli.v1"
-	"strings"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ var (
 
 // remoteConsole will connect to a remote opera instance, attaching a JavaScript
 // console to it.
-func remoteConsole(ctx *cli.Context) error {
+func remoteConsole(ctx *cli.Context) (err error) {
 	// Attach to a remotely running opera instance and start the JavaScript console
 	endpoint := ctx.Args().First()
 	if endpoint == "" {
@@ -57,18 +59,20 @@ func remoteConsole(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to start the JavaScript console: %v", err)
 	}
-	defer console.Stop(false)
+	defer caution.ExecuteAndReportError(&err,
+		func() error { return console.Stop(false) },
+		"failed to stop the JavaScript console")
 
 	if script := ctx.String(ExecFlag.Name); script != "" {
 		console.Evaluate(script)
-		return nil
+		return
 	}
 
 	// Otherwise print the welcome screen and enter interactive mode
 	console.Welcome()
 	console.Interactive()
 
-	return nil
+	return
 }
 
 // makeConsolePreloads retrieves the absolute paths for the console JavaScript
diff --git a/cmd/sonictool/app/compact.go b/cmd/sonictool/app/compact.go
index df89811f6..2016e4411 100644
--- a/cmd/sonictool/app/compact.go
+++ b/cmd/sonictool/app/compact.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/config/flags"
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/integration"
+	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/utils/caution"
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/utils/dbutil"
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/utils/dbutil/compactdb"
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/lachesis-base/kvdb"
@@ -38,13 +39,13 @@ func compactDbs(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func compactDB(name string, producer kvdb.DBProducer) error {
+func compactDB(name string, producer kvdb.DBProducer) (err error) {
 	db, err := producer.OpenDB(name)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error("Cannot open db or db does not exists", "db", name)
 		return err
 	}
-	defer db.Close()
+	defer caution.CloseAndReportError(&err, db, "failed to close db")
 
 	log.Info("Stats before compaction", "db", name)
 	showDbStats(db)
@@ -52,13 +53,13 @@ func compactDB(name string, producer kvdb.DBProducer) error {
 	err = compactdb.Compact(db, name, 64*opt.GiB)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error("Database compaction failed", "err", err)
-		return err
+		return
 	}
 
 	log.Info("Stats after compaction", "db", name)
 	showDbStats(db)
 
-	return nil
+	return
 }
 
 func showDbStats(db ethdb.Stater) {
diff --git a/cmd/sonictool/app/config.go b/cmd/sonictool/app/config.go
index e19ad7d2f..ecb95a2b3 100644
--- a/cmd/sonictool/app/config.go
+++ b/cmd/sonictool/app/config.go
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@ package app
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/config"
+	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/utils/caution"
 	"gopkg.in/urfave/cli.v1"
-	"os"
 )
 
 func checkConfig(ctx *cli.Context) error {
@@ -17,28 +19,30 @@ func checkConfig(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 }
 
 // dumpConfig is the dumpconfig command.
-func dumpConfig(ctx *cli.Context) error {
+func dumpConfig(ctx *cli.Context) (err error) {
 	cfg, err := config.MakeAllConfigs(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return
 	}
 	comment := ""
 
 	out, err := config.TomlSettings.Marshal(&cfg)
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return
 	}
 
 	dump := os.Stdout
 	if ctx.NArg() > 0 {
 		dump, err = os.OpenFile(ctx.Args().Get(0), os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|os.O_TRUNC, 0644)
 		if err != nil {
-			return err
+			return
 		}
-		defer dump.Close()
+		defer caution.CloseAndReportError(&err, dump, "failed to close config file")
 	}
-	dump.WriteString(comment)
-	dump.Write(out)
-
-	return nil
+	_, err = dump.WriteString(comment)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	_, err = dump.Write(out)
+	return
 }
diff --git a/cmd/sonictool/app/export_genesis.go b/cmd/sonictool/app/export_genesis.go
index 6dbeae51e..0d6a32908 100644
--- a/cmd/sonictool/app/export_genesis.go
+++ b/cmd/sonictool/app/export_genesis.go
@@ -3,20 +3,22 @@ package app
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/signal"
+	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"syscall"
+
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/cmd/sonictool/db"
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/cmd/sonictool/genesis"
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/config/flags"
 	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/integration"
+	"github.com/Fantom-foundation/go-opera/utils/caution"
 	"github.com/syndtr/goleveldb/leveldb/opt"
 	"gopkg.in/urfave/cli.v1"
-	"os"
-	"os/signal"
-	"path"
-	"path/filepath"
-	"syscall"
 )
 
-func exportGenesis(ctx *cli.Context) error {
+func exportGenesis(ctx *cli.Context) (err error) {
 	dataDir := ctx.GlobalString(flags.DataDirFlag.Name)
 	if dataDir == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--%s need to be set", flags.DataDirFlag.Name)
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ func exportGenesis(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to make DB producer: %v", err)
 	}
-	defer dbs.Close()
+	defer caution.CloseAndReportError(&err, dbs, "failed to close DB producer")
 
 	gdb, err := db.MakeGossipDb(db.GossipDbParameters{
 		Dbs:           dbs,
@@ -58,17 +60,18 @@ func exportGenesis(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	defer gdb.Close()
+	defer caution.CloseAndReportError(&err, gdb, "failed to close Gossip DB")
 
-	fh, err := os.OpenFile(fileName, os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY|os.O_TRUNC, os.ModePerm)
+	fileHandler, err := os.OpenFile(fileName, os.O_CREATE|os.O_WRONLY|os.O_TRUNC, os.ModePerm)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	defer fh.Close()
+	defer caution.CloseAndReportError(&err, fileHandler, fmt.Sprintf("failed to close file %v", fileName))
 
 	tmpPath := path.Join(dataDir, "tmp-genesis-export")
 	_ = os.RemoveAll(tmpPath)
-	defer os.RemoveAll(tmpPath)
+	defer caution.ExecuteAndReportError(&err, func() error { return os.RemoveAll(tmpPath) },
+		"failed to remove tmp genesis export dir")
 
-	return genesis.ExportGenesis(cancelCtx, gdb, !forValidatorMode, fh, tmpPath)
+	return genesis.ExportGenesis(cancelCtx, gdb, !forValidatorMode, fileHandler, tmpPath)
 }