how to use "maxima --batch" *reliably* ??

Hello,

I want to use

maxima --batch=File

but I need to check automatically that no
error occurred. Now unfortunately maxima
does not use the return value (which is
always 0, apparently completely un-bothered
about the execution of File) --- I consider
this as a bug?

Now how to do it otherwise?? Actually it seems
impossible:
 - communication to the outside world via setting
   an environment variable does not work;
 - so what remains is writing to some file
 - HOWEVER how to trigger such an action???

The possibility to execute a file AND checking for errors
seems very basic to me, so I hope somebody can tell
me what to do here.

Thanks in any case!

Oliver