diff --git a/lib/pleroma/upload.ex b/lib/pleroma/upload.ex
index 7d3b36287..f188a5f32 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/upload.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/upload.ex
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ def store(%Plug.Upload{} = file, should_dedupe) do
 
     strip_exif_data(content_type, file.path)
 
-    url_path = @storage_backend.put_file(name, uuid, file.path, content_type, should_dedupe)
+    {:ok, url_path} =
+      @storage_backend.put_file(name, uuid, file.path, content_type, should_dedupe)
 
     %{
       "type" => "Document",
@@ -31,7 +32,6 @@ def store(%{"img" => "data:image/" <> image_data}, should_dedupe) do
     parsed = Regex.named_captures(~r/(?<filetype>jpeg|png|gif);base64,(?<data>.*)/, image_data)
     data = Base.decode64!(parsed["data"], ignore: :whitespace)
 
-    # create temp local storage, like plug upload provides.
     tmp_path = tempfile_for_image(data)
 
     uuid = UUID.generate()
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def store(%{"img" => "data:image/" <> image_data}, should_dedupe) do
         content_type
       )
 
-    url_path = @storage_backend.put_file(name, uuid, tmp_path, content_type, should_dedupe)
+    {:ok, url_path} = @storage_backend.put_file(name, uuid, tmp_path, content_type, should_dedupe)
 
     %{
       "type" => "Image",
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ def store(%{"img" => "data:image/" <> image_data}, should_dedupe) do
     }
   end
 
+  @doc """
+  Creates a tempfile using the Plug.Upload Genserver which cleans them up 
+  automatically.
+  """
   def tempfile_for_image(data) do
     {:ok, tmp_path} = Plug.Upload.random_file("profile_pics")
     {:ok, tmp_file} = File.open(tmp_path, [:write, :raw, :binary])
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/uploaders/local.ex b/lib/pleroma/uploaders/local.ex
index 39dca49c9..d4624661f 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/uploaders/local.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/uploaders/local.ex
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def put_file(name, uuid, tmpfile, _content_type, should_dedupe) do
       File.cp!(tmpfile, result_file)
     end
 
-    url_path
+    {:ok, url_path}
   end
 
   def upload_path do
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/uploaders/s3.ex b/lib/pleroma/uploaders/s3.ex
index e18deb6b3..ce0ed3e34 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/uploaders/s3.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/uploaders/s3.ex
@@ -19,6 +19,6 @@ def put_file(name, uuid, path, content_type, _should_dedupe) do
       ])
       |> ExAws.request()
 
-    "#{public_endpoint}/#{bucket}/#{s3_name}"
+    {:ok, "#{public_endpoint}/#{bucket}/#{s3_name}"}
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/uploaders/swift/swift.ex b/lib/pleroma/uploaders/swift/swift.ex
index 4f45255f1..819dfebda 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/uploaders/swift/swift.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/uploaders/swift/swift.ex
@@ -11,20 +11,18 @@ def process_url(url) do
   end
 
   def upload_file(filename, body, content_type) do
+    object_url = Keyword.fetch!(@settings, :object_url)
     token = Pleroma.Uploaders.Swift.Keystone.get_token()
 
     case put("#{filename}", body, "X-Auth-Token": token, "Content-Type": content_type) do
       {:ok, %HTTPoison.Response{status_code: 201}} ->
-        # lgtm
-        ""
+        {:ok, "#{object_url}/#{filename}"}
 
       {:ok, %HTTPoison.Response{status_code: 401}} ->
-        # bad token
-        ""
+        {:error, "Unauthorized, Bad Token"}
 
       {:error, _} ->
-        # bad news
-        ""
+        {:error, "Swift Upload Error"}
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/uploaders/swift/uploader.ex b/lib/pleroma/uploaders/swift/uploader.ex
index c71808c2d..794f76cb0 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/uploaders/swift/uploader.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/uploaders/swift/uploader.ex
@@ -1,15 +1,10 @@
 defmodule Pleroma.Uploaders.Swift do
   @behaviour Pleroma.Uploaders.Uploader
 
-  @settings Application.get_env(:pleroma, Pleroma.Uploaders.Swift)
-
   def put_file(name, uuid, tmp_path, content_type, _should_dedupe) do
     {:ok, file_data} = File.read(tmp_path)
     remote_name = "#{uuid}/#{name}"
 
     Pleroma.Uploaders.Swift.Client.upload_file(remote_name, file_data, content_type)
-
-    object_url = Keyword.fetch!(@settings, :object_url)
-    "#{object_url}/#{remote_name}"
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/uploaders/uploader.ex b/lib/pleroma/uploaders/uploader.ex
index 7380320af..19bea77dc 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/uploaders/uploader.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/uploaders/uploader.ex
@@ -14,13 +14,5 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Uploaders.Uploader do
               file :: File.t(),
               content_type :: String.t(),
               should_dedupe :: Boolean.t()
-            ) :: String.t()
-
-  @callback put_file(
-              name :: String.t(),
-              uuid :: String.t(),
-              image_data :: String.t(),
-              content_type :: String.t(),
-              should_dedupe :: String.t()
-            ) :: String.t()
+            ) :: {:ok, String.t()} | {:error, String.t()}
 end