diff --git a/library/ssl_cli.c b/library/ssl_cli.c
index ddb1f9f81..d3169d2a4 100644
--- a/library/ssl_cli.c
+++ b/library/ssl_cli.c
@@ -1057,8 +1057,6 @@ static int ssl_parse_renegotiation_info( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
                                          const unsigned char *buf,
                                          size_t len )
 {
-    int ret;
-
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_RENEGOTIATION)
     if( ssl->renego_status != MBEDTLS_SSL_INITIAL_HANDSHAKE )
     {
@@ -1071,10 +1069,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_renegotiation_info( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
                           ssl->peer_verify_data, ssl->verify_data_len ) != 0 )
         {
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "non-matching renegotiation info" ) );
-
-            if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl ) ) != 0 )
-                return( ret );
-
+            mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                            MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
             return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_SERVER_HELLO );
         }
     }
@@ -1084,10 +1080,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_renegotiation_info( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
         if( len != 1 || buf[0] != 0x00 )
         {
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "non-zero length renegotiation info" ) );
-
-            if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl ) ) != 0 )
-                return( ret );
-
+            mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                            MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
             return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_SERVER_HELLO );
         }
 
@@ -1111,7 +1105,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_max_fragment_length_ext( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
         buf[0] != ssl->conf->mfl_code )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "non-matching max fragment length extension" ) );
-        mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl );
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_SERVER_HELLO );
     }
 
@@ -1128,7 +1123,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_truncated_hmac_ext( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
         len != 0 )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "non-matching truncated HMAC extension" ) );
-        mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl );
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_SERVER_HELLO );
     }
 
@@ -1150,7 +1146,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_encrypt_then_mac_ext( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
         len != 0 )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "non-matching encrypt-then-MAC extension" ) );
-        mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl );
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_SERVER_HELLO );
     }
 
@@ -1172,7 +1169,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_extended_ms_ext( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
         len != 0 )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "non-matching extended master secret extension" ) );
-        mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl );
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_SERVER_HELLO );
     }
 
@@ -1193,7 +1191,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_session_ticket_ext( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
         len != 0 )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "non-matching session ticket extension" ) );
-        mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl );
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_SERVER_HELLO );
     }
 
@@ -1244,7 +1243,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_supported_point_formats_ext( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
     }
 
     MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "no point format in common" ) );
-    mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl );
+    mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                    MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
     return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_SERVER_HELLO );
 }
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_ECDH_C || MBEDTLS_ECDSA_C || 
@@ -1273,8 +1273,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_ecjpake_kkpp( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
                                                 buf, len ) ) != 0 )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_RET( 1, "mbedtls_ecjpake_read_round_one", ret );
-        if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl ) ) != 0 )
-            return( ret );
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( ret );
     }
 
@@ -1293,7 +1293,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_alpn_ext( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
     if( ssl->conf->alpn_list == NULL )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "non-matching ALPN extension" ) );
-        mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl );
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_SERVER_HELLO );
     }
 
@@ -1343,7 +1344,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_alpn_ext( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
     }
 
     MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "ALPN extension: no matching protocol" ) );
-    mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl );
+    mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                    MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
     return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_SERVER_HELLO );
 }
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_SSL_ALPN */
@@ -1910,9 +1912,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_server_hello( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl )
 
     if( handshake_failure == 1 )
     {
-        if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl ) ) != 0 )
-            return( ret );
-
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_SERVER_HELLO );
     }
 
diff --git a/library/ssl_srv.c b/library/ssl_srv.c
index 451370c6a..89afbce5a 100644
--- a/library/ssl_srv.c
+++ b/library/ssl_srv.c
@@ -152,8 +152,6 @@ static int ssl_parse_renegotiation_info( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
                                          const unsigned char *buf,
                                          size_t len )
 {
-    int ret;
-
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_SSL_RENEGOTIATION)
     if( ssl->renego_status != MBEDTLS_SSL_INITIAL_HANDSHAKE )
     {
@@ -164,10 +162,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_renegotiation_info( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
                           ssl->verify_data_len ) != 0 )
         {
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "non-matching renegotiation info" ) );
-
-            if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl ) ) != 0 )
-                return( ret );
-
+            mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                            MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
             return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_CLIENT_HELLO );
         }
     }
@@ -177,10 +173,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_renegotiation_info( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl,
         if( len != 1 || buf[0] != 0x0 )
         {
             MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "non-zero length renegotiation info" ) );
-
-            if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl ) ) != 0 )
-                return( ret );
-
+            mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                            MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
             return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_CLIENT_HELLO );
         }
 
@@ -857,10 +851,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_client_hello_v2( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl )
     if( ssl->renego_status != MBEDTLS_SSL_INITIAL_HANDSHAKE )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "client hello v2 illegal for renegotiation" ) );
-
-        if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl ) ) != 0 )
-            return( ret );
-
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_CLIENT_HELLO );
     }
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_SSL_RENEGOTIATION */
@@ -1006,9 +998,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_client_hello_v2( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl )
                 MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "received RENEGOTIATION SCSV "
                                     "during renegotiation" ) );
 
-                if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl ) ) != 0 )
-                    return( ret );
-
+                mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                                MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
                 return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_CLIENT_HELLO );
             }
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_SSL_RENEGOTIATION */
@@ -1092,10 +1083,8 @@ have_ciphersuite_v2:
         ssl->conf->allow_legacy_renegotiation == MBEDTLS_SSL_LEGACY_BREAK_HANDSHAKE )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "legacy renegotiation, breaking off handshake" ) );
-
-        if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl ) ) != 0 )
-            return( ret );
-
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_CLIENT_HELLO );
     }
 
@@ -1794,10 +1783,8 @@ read_record_header:
             if( ssl->renego_status == MBEDTLS_SSL_RENEGOTIATION_IN_PROGRESS )
             {
                 MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "received RENEGOTIATION SCSV during renegotiation" ) );
-
-                if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl ) ) != 0 )
-                    return( ret );
-
+                mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                                MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
                 return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_CLIENT_HELLO );
             }
 #endif
@@ -1841,9 +1828,8 @@ read_record_header:
 
     if( handshake_failure == 1 )
     {
-        if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl ) ) != 0 )
-            return( ret );
-
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_BAD_HS_CLIENT_HELLO );
     }
 
@@ -1881,13 +1867,15 @@ read_record_header:
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "got ciphersuites in common, "
                             "but none of them usable" ) );
-        mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl );
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_NO_USABLE_CIPHERSUITE );
     }
     else
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "got no ciphersuites in common" ) );
-        mbedtls_ssl_send_fatal_handshake_failure( ssl );
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_HANDSHAKE_FAILURE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_NO_CIPHER_CHOSEN );
     }
 
@@ -3314,13 +3302,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_client_psk_identity( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl, unsigned cha
     if( ret == MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_UNKNOWN_IDENTITY )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_BUF( 3, "Unknown PSK identity", *p, n );
-        if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl,
-                              MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
-                              MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_UNKNOWN_PSK_IDENTITY ) ) != 0 )
-        {
-            return( ret );
-        }
-
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_UNKNOWN_PSK_IDENTITY );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_UNKNOWN_IDENTITY );
     }
 
diff --git a/library/ssl_tls.c b/library/ssl_tls.c
index 096b11148..713cb1055 100644
--- a/library/ssl_tls.c
+++ b/library/ssl_tls.c
@@ -3473,7 +3473,6 @@ static int ssl_handle_possible_reconnect( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl )
  */
 static int ssl_parse_record_header( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl )
 {
-    int ret;
     int major_ver, minor_ver;
 
     MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_BUF( 4, "input record header", ssl->in_hdr, mbedtls_ssl_hdr_len( ssl ) );
@@ -3494,14 +3493,8 @@ static int ssl_parse_record_header( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl )
         ssl->in_msgtype != MBEDTLS_SSL_MSG_APPLICATION_DATA )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "unknown record type" ) );
-
-        if( ( ret = mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl,
-                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
-                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_UNEXPECTED_MESSAGE ) ) != 0 )
-        {
-            return( ret );
-        }
-
+        mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,
+                                        MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_MSG_UNEXPECTED_MESSAGE );
         return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_INVALID_RECORD );
     }