diff --git a/examples/C/grib_clone.c b/examples/C/grib_clone.c
index d54ab4440..c2964b54a 100644
--- a/examples/C/grib_clone.c
+++ b/examples/C/grib_clone.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
         CODES_CHECK(codes_get_message(clone_handle, &buffer, &size), 0);
         /* write the buffer to a file */
         if (fwrite(buffer, 1, size, out) != size) {
-            perror(argv[1]);
+            perror(argv[2]);
             return 1;
         }
         codes_handle_delete(clone_handle);
diff --git a/examples/C/grib_precision.c b/examples/C/grib_precision.c
index ae39318b2..4f3657610 100644
--- a/examples/C/grib_precision.c
+++ b/examples/C/grib_precision.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 
     /* write the buffer in a file*/
     if (fwrite(buffer, 1, size, out) != size) {
-        perror(argv[1]);
+        perror(outfile);
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/examples/C/grib_set_keys.c b/examples/C/grib_set_keys.c
index feea6731a..50aeff372 100644
--- a/examples/C/grib_set_keys.c
+++ b/examples/C/grib_set_keys.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 
     /* write the buffer in a file*/
     if (fwrite(buffer, 1, size, out) != size) {
-        perror(argv[1]);
+        perror(outfile);
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/examples/C/grib_set_missing.c b/examples/C/grib_set_missing.c
index 82f698975..98395c120 100644
--- a/examples/C/grib_set_missing.c
+++ b/examples/C/grib_set_missing.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 
     /* write the buffer in a file*/
     if (fwrite(buffer, 1, size, out) != size) {
-        perror(argv[1]);
+        perror(outfile);
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/examples/C/grib_set_pv.c b/examples/C/grib_set_pv.c
index 7ca4c32fe..e279aec8b 100644
--- a/examples/C/grib_set_pv.c
+++ b/examples/C/grib_set_pv.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 
     /* write the buffer in a file*/
     if (fwrite(buffer, 1, size, out) != size) {
-        perror(argv[1]);
+        perror(outfile);
         exit(1);
     }