diff --git a/tools/batchMod.pl b/tools/batchMod.pl
index eedf9b827a..8b13257e5d 100755
--- a/tools/batchMod.pl
+++ b/tools/batchMod.pl
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ if ($op eq "action") {
         my $itemdata = $item->unblessed;
         if ( $del ){
             my $return = $item->safe_delete;
-			if ($return == 1) {
+            if (ref($return)) {
 			    $deleted_items++;
 			} else {
 			    $not_deleted_items++;
diff --git a/tools/batch_delete_records.pl b/tools/batch_delete_records.pl
index d1ab80c892..1dccbae99f 100755
--- a/tools/batch_delete_records.pl
+++ b/tools/batch_delete_records.pl
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ if ( $op eq 'form' ) {
             # Delete items
             my $items = Koha::Items->search({ biblionumber => $biblionumber });
             while ( my $item = $items->next ) {
-                my $error = eval { $item->safe_delete };
-                if ( $error ne '1' or $@ ) {
+                my $deleted_item = eval { $item->safe_delete };
+                if ( !ref($deleted_item) or $@ ) {
                     push @messages, {
                         type => 'error',
                         code => 'item_not_deleted',