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