diff --git a/app/ytdl.py b/app/ytdl.py
index 1cf252b..0fac5d8 100644
--- a/app/ytdl.py
+++ b/app/ytdl.py
@@ -867,7 +867,12 @@ class DownloadQueue:
             key = entry.get('webpage_url') or entry['url']
             if not self.queue.exists(key):
                 dl = DownloadInfo(video_id, entry.get('title') or video_id, key, quality, format, folder, custom_name_prefix, error, entry, playlist_item_limit)
-                await self.__add_download(dl, auto_start)
+                result = await self.__add_download(dl, auto_start)
+                if result:
+                    # __add_download reports a skipped duplicate or an error
+                    # (e.g. {'status': 'ok', 'msg': 'Download already exists'});
+                    # surface that instead of an unconditional success.
+                    return result
             return {'status': 'ok'}
         return {'status': 'error', 'msg': f'Unsupported resource "{etype}"'}