diff --git a/scripts/ftp-anon.nse b/scripts/ftp-anon.nse
index 78d88c87d..caa464688 100644
--- a/scripts/ftp-anon.nse
+++ b/scripts/ftp-anon.nse
@@ -162,18 +162,22 @@ action = function(host, port)
 	result[#result + 1] = "Anonymous FTP login allowed (FTP code " .. code .. ")"
 
 	if not max_list or max_list > 0 then
-		local listing = try(list(socket, host, max_list))
+		local status, listing = list(socket, host, max_list)
 		socket:close()
 	
-		for _, item in ipairs(listing) do
-			-- Just a quick passive check on user rights.
-			if string.match(item, "^[d-].......w.") then
-				item = item .. " [NSE: writeable]"
+		if not status then
+			result[#result + 1] = "Can't get directory listing: " .. listing
+		else
+			for _, item in ipairs(listing) do
+				-- Just a quick passive check on user rights.
+				if string.match(item, "^[d-].......w.") then
+					item = item .. " [NSE: writeable]"
+				end
+				result[#result + 1] = item
+			end
+			if max_list and #listing == max_list then
+				result[#result + 1] = string.format("Only %d shown. Use --script-args %s.maxlist=-1 to see all.", #listing, SCRIPT_NAME)
 			end
-			result[#result + 1] = item
-		end
-		if max_list and #listing == max_list then
-			result[#result + 1] = string.format("Only %d shown. Use --script-args %s.maxlist=-1 to see all.", #listing, SCRIPT_NAME)
 		end
 	end