my $rv = system(...);
if ($rv == -1) {
   die("Unable to launch child: $!\n");
}

if ($rv & 127) {
   die(sprintf("Error executing child: Child died with signal %d, %s coredump\n",
      ($rv & 127),
      ($rv & 128) ? 'with' : 'without',
   ));
}

if ($rv >> 8) {
   die(sprintf("Error executing child: Child exited with value %d\n",
      ($rv >> 8)
   ));
}

print("Child ran successfully\n");