use warnings;
use Inline C => Config => BUILD_NOISY => 1;

sub register_vm {
    die "register_vm() has died";
}

use Inline C => <<'EOC';

SV * foo(char * config) {
  int bRet = 1;
  STRLEN n_a;
  dSP;
  ENTER;
  SAVETMPS;
  PUSHMARK(SP);
  XPUSHs(sv_2mortal(newSVpv(config, 0)));
  PUTBACK;
  perl_call_pv("register_vm", G_DISCARD|G_EVAL);
  SPAGAIN;
  if(SvTRUE(ERRSV))
  { 
    printf ("From C: %s\n", SvPV(ERRSV, n_a));
    bRet = 0;
  }
  PUTBACK;
  FREETMPS;
  LEAVE;
  return newSViv(bRet);
}

EOC

$ret = foo('arg');
print "Perl's \$\@ contains: $@\n\$ret: $ret\n";

##</code><code>##

From C: register_vm() has died at try.pl line 5.

Perl's $@ contains: register_vm() has died at try.pl line 5.

$ret: 0