diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index cc72ccf7..89763f00 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 - added vips_image_hasalpha()
 - added vips_thumbnail() / vips_thumbnail_buffer()
 - better >4gb detect for zip dzsave output [Felix Bünemann]
+- all loaders have a @fail option, meaning fail on first warning, though it
+  only does anything for jpg, csv, openslide
 
 11/11/16 started 8.4.4
 - fix crash in vips.exe arg parsing on Windows, thanks Yury
diff --git a/libvips/deprecated/im_csv2vips.c b/libvips/deprecated/im_csv2vips.c
index 55900b93..a2bf48e0 100644
--- a/libvips/deprecated/im_csv2vips.c
+++ b/libvips/deprecated/im_csv2vips.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ im_csv2vips( const char *filename, IMAGE *out )
 	}
 
 	if( vips__csv_read( name, out, 
-		start_skip, lines, whitespace, separator ) )
+		start_skip, lines, whitespace, separator, FALSE ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/csv.c b/libvips/foreign/csv.c
index 5ea4cbcf..95f71f18 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/csv.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/csv.c
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ skip_to_sep( FILE *fp, const char sepmap[256] )
  */
 static int
 read_double( FILE *fp, const char whitemap[256], const char sepmap[256],
-	int lineno, int colno, double *out )
+	int lineno, int colno, double *out, gboolean fail )
 {
 	int ch;
 
@@ -198,6 +198,8 @@ read_double( FILE *fp, const char whitemap[256], const char sepmap[256],
 		vips_warn( "csv2vips", 
 			_( "error parsing number, line %d, column %d" ),
 			lineno, colno );
+		if( fail )
+			return( EOF ); 
 
 		/* Step over the bad data to the next separator.
 		 */
@@ -222,7 +224,8 @@ read_csv( FILE *fp, VipsImage *out,
 	int skip, 
 	int lines,
 	const char *whitespace, const char *separator,
-	gboolean read_image )
+	gboolean read_image,
+	gboolean fail )
 {
 	int i;
 	char whitemap[256];
@@ -265,7 +268,7 @@ read_csv( FILE *fp, VipsImage *out,
 	}
 	for( columns = 0; 
 		(ch = read_double( fp, whitemap, sepmap, 
-			skip + 1, columns + 1, &d )) == 0; 
+			skip + 1, columns + 1, &d, fail )) == 0; 
 		columns++ )
 		;
 	(void) fsetpos( fp, &pos );
@@ -308,7 +311,7 @@ read_csv( FILE *fp, VipsImage *out,
 			int colno = x + 1;
 
 			ch = read_double( fp, whitemap, sepmap,
-				lineno, colno, &d );
+				lineno, colno, &d, fail );
 			if( ch == EOF ) {
 				vips_error( "csv2vips", 
 					_( "unexpected EOF, line %d col %d" ), 
@@ -342,13 +345,15 @@ read_csv( FILE *fp, VipsImage *out,
 
 int
 vips__csv_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
-	int skip, int lines, const char *whitespace, const char *separator )
+	int skip, int lines, const char *whitespace, const char *separator, 
+	gboolean fail )
 {
 	FILE *fp;
 
 	if( !(fp = vips__file_open_read( filename, NULL, TRUE )) ) 
 		return( -1 );
-	if( read_csv( fp, out, skip, lines, whitespace, separator, TRUE ) ) {
+	if( read_csv( fp, out, 
+		skip, lines, whitespace, separator, TRUE, fail ) ) {
 		fclose( fp );
 		return( -1 );
 	}
@@ -359,13 +364,15 @@ vips__csv_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
 
 int
 vips__csv_read_header( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
-	int skip, int lines, const char *whitespace, const char *separator )
+	int skip, int lines, const char *whitespace, const char *separator, 
+	gboolean fail )
 {
 	FILE *fp;
 
 	if( !(fp = vips__file_open_read( filename, NULL, TRUE )) ) 
 		return( -1 );
-	if( read_csv( fp, out, skip, lines, whitespace, separator, FALSE ) ) {
+	if( read_csv( fp, out, 
+		skip, lines, whitespace, separator, FALSE, fail ) ) {
 		fclose( fp );
 		return( -1 );
 	}
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/csvload.c b/libvips/foreign/csvload.c
index 9ee62135..59c37fe2 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/csvload.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/csvload.c
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ vips_foreign_load_csv_header( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadCsv *csv = (VipsForeignLoadCsv *) load;
 
 	if( vips__csv_read_header( csv->filename, load->out, 
-		csv->skip, csv->lines, csv->whitespace, csv->separator ) )
+		csv->skip, csv->lines, csv->whitespace, csv->separator,
+		load->fail ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	VIPS_SETSTR( load->out->filename, csv->filename );
@@ -103,7 +104,8 @@ vips_foreign_load_csv_load( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadCsv *csv = (VipsForeignLoadCsv *) load;
 
 	if( vips__csv_read( csv->filename, load->real, 
-		csv->skip, csv->lines, csv->whitespace, csv->separator ) )
+		csv->skip, csv->lines, csv->whitespace, csv->separator,
+		load->fail ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
@@ -191,6 +193,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_csv_init( VipsForeignLoadCsv *csv )
  * * @lines: read this many lines from file
  * * @whitespace: set of whitespace characters
  * * @separator: set of separator characters
+ * * @fail: %gboolean, fail on warnings
  *
  * Load a CSV (comma-separated values) file. The output image is always 1 
  * band (monochrome), #VIPS_FORMAT_DOUBLE. Use vips_bandfold() to turn
@@ -218,6 +221,8 @@ vips_foreign_load_csv_init( VipsForeignLoadCsv *csv )
  * @separator sets the characters that separate fields. 
  * Default ;,<emphasis>tab</emphasis>. Separators are never run together.
  *
+ * Setting @fail to %TRUE makes the reader fail on any warnings. 
+ *
  * See also: vips_image_new_from_file(), vips_bandfold().
  *
  * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error.
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/foreign.c b/libvips/foreign/foreign.c
index 3313b9e6..ea7d03e3 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/foreign.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/foreign.c
@@ -986,6 +986,13 @@ vips_foreign_load_class_init( VipsForeignLoadClass *class )
 		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsForeignLoad, sequential ),
 		FALSE );
 
+	VIPS_ARG_BOOL( class, "fail", 11, 
+		_( "Fail" ), 
+		_( "Fail on first warning" ),
+		VIPS_ARGUMENT_OPTIONAL_INPUT,
+		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsForeignLoad, fail ),
+		FALSE );
+
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/jpegload.c b/libvips/foreign/jpegload.c
index 186fd28f..9e53914e 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/jpegload.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/jpegload.c
@@ -77,10 +77,6 @@ typedef struct _VipsForeignLoadJpeg {
 	 */
 	int shrink;
 
-	/* Fail on first warning.
-	 */
-	gboolean fail;
-
 	/* Autorotate using exif orientation tag.
 	 */
 	gboolean autorotate;
@@ -144,13 +140,6 @@ vips_foreign_load_jpeg_class_init( VipsForeignLoadJpegClass *class )
 		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsForeignLoadJpeg, shrink ),
 		1, 16, 1 );
 
-	VIPS_ARG_BOOL( class, "fail", 11, 
-		_( "Fail" ), 
-		_( "Fail on first warning" ),
-		VIPS_ARGUMENT_OPTIONAL_INPUT,
-		G_STRUCT_OFFSET( VipsForeignLoadJpeg, fail ),
-		FALSE );
-
 	VIPS_ARG_BOOL( class, "autorotate", 12, 
 		_( "Autorotate" ), 
 		_( "Rotate image using exif orientation" ),
@@ -201,7 +190,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_jpeg_file_header( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadJpegFile *file = (VipsForeignLoadJpegFile *) load;
 
 	if( vips__jpeg_read_file( file->filename, load->out, 
-		TRUE, jpeg->shrink, jpeg->fail, FALSE, jpeg->autorotate ) ) 
+		TRUE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail, FALSE, jpeg->autorotate ) ) 
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
@@ -214,7 +203,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_jpeg_file_load( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadJpegFile *file = (VipsForeignLoadJpegFile *) load;
 
 	if( vips__jpeg_read_file( file->filename, load->real, 
-		FALSE, jpeg->shrink, jpeg->fail,
+		FALSE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail,
 		load->access == VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL, jpeg->autorotate ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
@@ -283,7 +272,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_jpeg_buffer_header( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadJpegBuffer *buffer = (VipsForeignLoadJpegBuffer *) load;
 
 	if( vips__jpeg_read_buffer( buffer->buf->data, buffer->buf->length, 
-		load->out, TRUE, jpeg->shrink, jpeg->fail, FALSE, 
+		load->out, TRUE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail, FALSE, 
 		jpeg->autorotate ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
@@ -297,7 +286,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_jpeg_buffer_load( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 	VipsForeignLoadJpegBuffer *buffer = (VipsForeignLoadJpegBuffer *) load;
 
 	if( vips__jpeg_read_buffer( buffer->buf->data, buffer->buf->length, 
-		load->real, FALSE, jpeg->shrink, jpeg->fail,
+		load->real, FALSE, jpeg->shrink, load->fail,
 		load->access == VIPS_ACCESS_SEQUENTIAL, jpeg->autorotate ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/openslide2vips.c b/libvips/foreign/openslide2vips.c
index bd94a196..27d8807b 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/openslide2vips.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/openslide2vips.c
@@ -115,6 +115,10 @@ typedef struct {
 	 */
 	int tile_width;
 	int tile_height;
+
+	/* Quit on warning.
+	 */
+	gboolean fail;
 } ReadSlide;
 
 int
@@ -223,7 +227,7 @@ get_bounds( openslide_t *osr, VipsRect *rect )
 
 static ReadSlide *
 readslide_new( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
-	int level, gboolean autocrop, const char *associated )
+	int level, gboolean autocrop, const char *associated, gboolean fail )
 {
 	ReadSlide *rslide;
 	int64_t w, h;
@@ -391,9 +395,9 @@ readslide_new( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
 
 int
 vips__openslide_read_header( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
-	int level, gboolean autocrop, char *associated )
+	int level, gboolean autocrop, char *associated, gboolean fail )
 {
-	if( !readslide_new( filename, out, level, autocrop, associated ) )
+	if( !readslide_new( filename, out, level, autocrop, associated, fail ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	return( 0 );
@@ -475,13 +479,14 @@ vips__openslide_generate( VipsRegion *out,
 
 	/* Only warn on error: we don't want to make the whole image unreadable
 	 * because of one broken tile.
-	 *
-	 * FIXME ... add a --fail option like jpegload
 	 */
 	error = openslide_get_error( rslide->osr );
-	if( error ) 
+	if( error ) {
 		vips_warn( "openslide2vips", 
 			_( "reading region: %s" ), error );
+		if( rslide->fail )
+			return( -1 );
+	}
 
 	/* Since we are inside a cache, we know buf must be continuous.
 	 */
@@ -492,7 +497,7 @@ vips__openslide_generate( VipsRegion *out,
 
 int
 vips__openslide_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
-	int level, gboolean autocrop )
+	int level, gboolean autocrop, gboolean fail )
 {
 	ReadSlide *rslide;
 	VipsImage *raw;
@@ -505,7 +510,7 @@ vips__openslide_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
 	vips_object_local( out, raw );
 
 	if( !(rslide = readslide_new( filename, raw, 
-		level, autocrop, NULL )) )
+		level, autocrop, NULL, fail )) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	if( vips_image_generate( raw, 
@@ -534,7 +539,7 @@ vips__openslide_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
 
 int
 vips__openslide_read_associated( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
-	const char *associated )
+	const char *associated, gboolean fail )
 {
 	ReadSlide *rslide;
 	VipsImage *raw;
@@ -549,7 +554,8 @@ vips__openslide_read_associated( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
 	raw = vips_image_new_memory();
 	vips_object_local( out, raw );
 
-	if( !(rslide = readslide_new( filename, raw, 0, FALSE, associated )) ||
+	if( !(rslide = readslide_new( filename, raw, 
+		0, FALSE, associated, fail )) ||
 		vips_image_write_prepare( raw ) )
 		return( -1 );
 	buf = (uint32_t *) VIPS_IMAGE_ADDR( raw, 0, 0 );
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/openslideload.c b/libvips/foreign/openslideload.c
index a02927fb..aef3eade 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/openslideload.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/openslideload.c
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_openslide_header( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 
 	if( vips__openslide_read_header( openslide->filename, load->out, 
 		openslide->level, openslide->autocrop, 
-		openslide->associated ) )
+		openslide->associated, load->fail ) )
 		return( -1 );
 
 	VIPS_SETSTR( load->out->filename, openslide->filename );
@@ -129,13 +129,13 @@ vips_foreign_load_openslide_load( VipsForeignLoad *load )
 
 	if( !openslide->associated ) {
 		if( vips__openslide_read( openslide->filename, load->real, 
-			openslide->level, openslide->autocrop ) )
+			openslide->level, openslide->autocrop, load->fail ) )
 			return( -1 );
 	}
 	else {
 		if( vips__openslide_read_associated( 
 			openslide->filename, load->real, 
-			openslide->associated ) )
+			openslide->associated, load->fail ) )
 			return( -1 );
 	}
 
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ vips_foreign_load_openslide_init( VipsForeignLoadOpenslide *openslide )
  * * @level: load this level
  * * @associated: load this associated image
  * * @autocrop: crop to image bounds
+ * * @fail: %gboolean, fail on warnings
  *
  * Read a virtual slide supported by the OpenSlide library into a VIPS image.
  * OpenSlide supports images in Aperio, Hamamatsu, MIRAX, Sakura, Trestle,
@@ -250,6 +251,8 @@ vips_foreign_load_openslide_init( VipsForeignLoadOpenslide *openslide )
  *
  * The output of this operator is always RGBA.
  *
+ * Setting @fail to %TRUE makes the reader fail on any warnings. 
+ *
  * See also: vips_image_new_from_file().
  *
  * Returns: 0 on success, -1 on error.
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/pforeign.h b/libvips/foreign/pforeign.h
index 95b63ea8..f0a8557a 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/pforeign.h
+++ b/libvips/foreign/pforeign.h
@@ -87,9 +87,11 @@ int vips__analyze_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out );
 extern const char *vips__foreign_csv_suffs[];
 
 int vips__csv_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
-	int skip, int lines, const char *whitespace, const char *separator );
+	int skip, int lines, const char *whitespace, const char *separator, 
+	gboolean fail );
 int vips__csv_read_header( const char *filename, VipsImage *out,
-	int skip, int lines, const char *whitespace, const char *separator );
+	int skip, int lines, const char *whitespace, const char *separator, 
+	gboolean fail );
 
 int vips__csv_write( VipsImage *in, const char *filename, 
 	const char *separator );
@@ -215,11 +217,11 @@ int vips__webp_write_buffer( VipsImage *out, void **buf, size_t *len,
 
 int vips__openslide_isslide( const char *filename );
 int vips__openslide_read_header( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
-	int level, gboolean autocrop, char *associated );
+	int level, gboolean autocrop, char *associated, gboolean fail );
 int vips__openslide_read( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
-	int level, gboolean autocrop );
+	int level, gboolean autocrop, gboolean fail );
 int vips__openslide_read_associated( const char *filename, VipsImage *out, 
-	const char *associated );
+	const char *associated, gboolean fail );
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
diff --git a/libvips/foreign/tiff.c b/libvips/foreign/tiff.c
index ba82f4ee..07bf926d 100644
--- a/libvips/foreign/tiff.c
+++ b/libvips/foreign/tiff.c
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ vips__thandler_error( const char *module, const char *fmt, va_list ap )
 	vips_verror( module, fmt, ap );
 }
 
+/* It'd be nice to be able to support the @fail option for the tiff loader, but
+ * there's no easy way to do this, since libtiff has a global warning handler.
+ */
 static void 
 vips__thandler_warning( const char *module, const char *fmt, va_list ap )
 {
diff --git a/libvips/include/vips/foreign.h b/libvips/include/vips/foreign.h
index 2245167b..cb510570 100644
--- a/libvips/include/vips/foreign.h
+++ b/libvips/include/vips/foreign.h
@@ -131,6 +131,10 @@ typedef struct _VipsForeignLoad {
 	 */
 	VipsForeignFlags flags;
 
+	/* Stop load on first warning.
+	 */
+	gboolean fail;
+
 	/* Deprecated and unused, just here for compat.
 	 */
 	gboolean sequential;