using an eval worked marvelously. here is my resulting code: 
    eval {
        $ftp->login($data->{'login'}, $data->{'pw'}) or die $ftp->mess
+age;
        $ftp->binary                                 or die $ftp->mess
+age;
        $ftp->cwd($data->{'remote_dir'})             or die $ftp->mess
+age;
        $ftp->put($to_upload)                        or die $ftp->mess
+age;
        $ftp->quit                                   or die $ftp->mess
+age;
    };

    if ($@) {
        $log->logwarn("upload_file: xqe $data->{'id'}, " . $@);
        $log->error("upload_file: xqe $data->{'id'}, " .
                     "PUT $to_upload failed");
        return undef;
    }
    else {
        return 1;
    }

[download]

thanks all.
ryanc

In reply to Re^2: Net::FTP not catching errors, my fault? by ryanc
in thread [solved] Net::FTP not catching errors, my fault? by ryanc

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