diff --git a/mission/tmtc/VirtualChannel.cpp b/mission/tmtc/VirtualChannel.cpp
index a33a7dba..64c7b006 100644
--- a/mission/tmtc/VirtualChannel.cpp
+++ b/mission/tmtc/VirtualChannel.cpp
@@ -44,8 +44,11 @@ ReturnValue_t VirtualChannel::performOperation() {
     if (linkIsUp) {
       result = ptme->writeToVc(vcId, data, size);
     }
-
     tmStore->deleteData(storeId);
+    if (result != returnvalue::OK) {
+      return result;
+    }
+
     count++;
     if(count == 500) {
       sif::error << "VirtualChannel: Possible message storm detected" << std::endl;