---
name: "bouncesaying"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "qmail"
version: "1.06-6.2~deb10u1"
release: "Debian 10 (Buster)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/bouncesaying"
---

# bouncesaying(1)

perhaps bounce each incoming message

## NAME

bouncesaying - perhaps bounce each incoming message

## SYNOPSIS

in **.qmail**: **\|bouncesaying** *error* \[ *program* \[ *arg ...* \] \]

## DESCRIPTION

**bouncesaying** feeds each new mail message to *program* with the given arguments. If *program* exits 0, **bouncesaying** prints *error* and bounces the message.

If *program* exits 111, **bouncesaying** exits 111, so delivery will be retried later.

If *program* exits anything else (or does not exist), **bouncesaying** exits 0, so the rest of **.qmail** will be processed as usual.

Note that it is not safe for *program* to fork a child that reads the message in the background.

If *program* is not supplied, **bouncesaying** always bounces the message:

```
   |bouncesaying 'This address no longer accepts mail.'
```

**WARNING:** If you create a **.qmail** file to enable **bouncesaying**, make sure to also add a line specifying delivery to your normal mailbox.

## SEE ALSO

[condredirect(1)](/condredirect/1.md), [except(1)](/except/1.md), [dot-qmail(5)](/dot-qmail/5.md), [qmail-command(8)](/qmail-command/8.md)