diff --git a/src/IO.f90 b/src/IO.f90
index 047d11add..a6ecb1491 100644
--- a/src/IO.f90
+++ b/src/IO.f90
@@ -24,11 +24,6 @@ module IO
   character, parameter :: &
     CR = achar(13), &
     LF = IO_EOL
-  character(len=*), parameter :: &
-    IO_DIVIDER = '───────────────────'//&
-                 '───────────────────'//&
-                 '───────────────────'//&
-                 '────────────'
 
   public :: &
     IO_init, &
@@ -54,11 +49,11 @@ contains
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !> @brief Do self test.
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-subroutine IO_init
+subroutine IO_init()
 
   print'(/,1x,a)', '<<<+-  IO init  -+>>>'; flush(IO_STDOUT)
 
-  call selfTest
+  call selfTest()
 
 end subroutine IO_init
 
@@ -95,7 +90,7 @@ function IO_readlines(fileName) result(fileContent)
     if (endPos - startPos > pStringLen-1) then
       line = rawData(startPos:startPos+pStringLen-1)
       if (.not. warned) then
-        call IO_warning(207,ext_msg=trim(fileName),el=l)
+        call IO_warning(207,trim(fileName),label1='line',ID1=l)
         warned = .true.
       endif
     else
@@ -129,7 +124,7 @@ function IO_read(fileName) result(fileContent)
   inquire(file = fileName, size=fileLength)
   open(newunit=fileUnit, file=fileName, access='stream',&
        status='old', position='rewind', action='read',iostat=myStat)
-  if (myStat /= 0) call IO_error(100,ext_msg=trim(fileName))
+  if (myStat /= 0) call IO_error(100,trim(fileName))
   allocate(character(len=fileLength)::fileContent)
   if (fileLength==0) then
     close(fileUnit)
@@ -137,7 +132,7 @@ function IO_read(fileName) result(fileContent)
   endif
 
   read(fileUnit,iostat=myStat) fileContent
-  if (myStat /= 0) call IO_error(102,ext_msg=trim(fileName))
+  if (myStat /= 0) call IO_error(102,trim(fileName))
   close(fileUnit)
 
   if (scan(fileContent(:index(fileContent,LF)),CR//LF) /= 0) fileContent = CRLF2LF(fileContent)
@@ -206,7 +201,7 @@ function IO_stringValue(string,chunkPos,myChunk)
 
   validChunk: if (myChunk > chunkPos(1) .or. myChunk < 1) then
     IO_stringValue = ''
-    call IO_error(110,el=myChunk,ext_msg='IO_stringValue: "'//trim(string)//'"')
+    call IO_error(110,'IO_stringValue: "'//trim(string)//'"',label1='chunk',ID1=myChunk)
   else validChunk
     IO_stringValue = string(chunkPos(myChunk*2):chunkPos(myChunk*2+1))
   endif validChunk
@@ -303,10 +298,10 @@ integer function IO_stringAsInt(string)
 
   valid: if (verify(string,VALIDCHARS) == 0) then
     read(string,*,iostat=readStatus) IO_stringAsInt
-    if (readStatus /= 0) call IO_error(111,ext_msg=string)
+    if (readStatus /= 0) call IO_error(111,string)
   else valid
     IO_stringAsInt = 0
-    call IO_error(111,ext_msg=string)
+    call IO_error(111,string)
   endif valid
 
 end function IO_stringAsInt
@@ -325,10 +320,10 @@ real(pReal) function IO_stringAsFloat(string)
 
   valid: if (verify(string,VALIDCHARS) == 0) then
     read(string,*,iostat=readStatus) IO_stringAsFloat
-    if (readStatus /= 0) call IO_error(112,ext_msg=string)
+    if (readStatus /= 0) call IO_error(112,string)
   else valid
     IO_stringAsFloat = 0.0_pReal
-    call IO_error(112,ext_msg=string)
+    call IO_error(112,string)
   endif valid
 
 end function IO_stringAsFloat
@@ -348,33 +343,27 @@ logical function IO_stringAsBool(string)
     IO_stringAsBool = .false.
   else
     IO_stringAsBool = .false.
-    call IO_error(113,ext_msg=string)
+    call IO_error(113,string)
   endif
 
 end function IO_stringAsBool
 
 
+
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-!> @brief Write error statements to standard out and terminate the run with exit #9xxx
+!> @brief Write error statements and terminate the run with exit #9xxx.
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-subroutine IO_error(error_ID,el,ip,g,instance,ext_msg)
+subroutine IO_error(error_ID,ext_msg,label1,ID1,label2,ID2)
 
   integer,                    intent(in) :: error_ID
-  integer,          optional, intent(in) :: el,ip,g,instance
-  character(len=*), optional, intent(in) :: ext_msg
+  character(len=*), optional, intent(in) :: ext_msg,label1,label2
+  integer,          optional, intent(in) :: ID1,ID2
 
   external                      :: quit
   character(len=:), allocatable :: msg
-  character(len=pStringLen)     :: formatString
-
 
   select case (error_ID)
 
-!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-! internal errors
-    case (0)
-      msg = 'internal check failed:'
-
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ! file handling errors
     case (100)
@@ -446,7 +435,7 @@ subroutine IO_error(error_ID,el,ip,g,instance,ext_msg)
     case (190)
       msg = 'unknown element type:'
     case (191)
-      msg = 'mesh consists of more than one element type'
+      msg = 'mesh contains more than one element type'
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ! plasticity error messages
@@ -483,27 +472,27 @@ subroutine IO_error(error_ID,el,ip,g,instance,ext_msg)
 !------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ! errors related to YAML data
     case (701)
-      msg = 'Incorrect indent/Null value not allowed'
+      msg = 'incorrect indent/Null value not allowed'
     case (702)
-      msg = 'Invalid use of flow YAML'
+      msg = 'invalid use of flow YAML'
     case (703)
-      msg = 'Invalid YAML'
+      msg = 'invalid YAML'
     case (704)
-      msg = 'Space expected after a colon for <key>: <value> pair'
+      msg = 'space expected after a colon for <key>: <value> pair'
     case (705)
-      msg = 'Unsupported feature'
+      msg = 'unsupported feature'
     case (706)
-      msg = 'Type mismatch in YAML data node'
+      msg = 'type mismatch in YAML data node'
     case (707)
-      msg = 'Abrupt end of file'
+      msg = 'abrupt end of file'
     case (708)
-      msg = '--- expected after YAML file header'
+      msg = '"---" expected after YAML file header'
     case (709)
-      msg = 'Length mismatch'
+      msg = 'length mismatch'
     case (710)
-      msg = 'Closing quotation mark missing in string'
+      msg = 'closing quotation mark missing in string'
     case (711)
-      msg = 'Incorrect type'
+      msg = 'incorrect type'
 
 !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ! errors related to the mesh solver
@@ -540,58 +529,35 @@ subroutine IO_error(error_ID,el,ip,g,instance,ext_msg)
     case (950)
       msg = 'max number of cut back exceeded, terminating'
 
-!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-! general error messages
     case default
-      msg = 'unknown error number...'
+      error stop 'invalid error number'
 
   end select
 
-  !$OMP CRITICAL (write2out)
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(/,a)')                ' ┌'//IO_DIVIDER//'┐'
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(a,24x,a,40x,a)')      ' │','error',                                             '│'
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(a,24x,i3,42x,a)')     ' │',error_ID,                                            '│'
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(a)')                  ' ├'//IO_DIVIDER//'┤'
-  write(formatString,'(a,i6.6,a,i6.6,a)') '(1x,a4,a',max(1,len_trim(msg)),',',&
-                                                     max(1,72-len_trim(msg)-4),'x,a)'
-  write(IO_STDERR,formatString)            '│ ',trim(msg),                                          '│'
-  if (present(ext_msg)) then
-    write(formatString,'(a,i6.6,a,i6.6,a)') '(1x,a4,a',max(1,len_trim(ext_msg)),',',&
-                                                       max(1,72-len_trim(ext_msg)-4),'x,a)'
-    write(IO_STDERR,formatString)          '│ ',trim(ext_msg),                                      '│'
-  endif
-  if (present(el)) &
-    write(IO_STDERR,'(a19,1x,i9,44x,a3)') ' │ at element    ',el,                                   '│'
-  if (present(ip)) &
-    write(IO_STDERR,'(a19,1x,i9,44x,a3)') ' │ at IP         ',ip,                                   '│'
-  if (present(g)) &
-    write(IO_STDERR,'(a19,1x,i9,44x,a3)') ' │ at constituent',g,                                    '│'
-  if (present(instance)) &
-    write(IO_STDERR,'(a19,1x,i9,44x,a3)') ' │ at instance   ',instance,                             '│'
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(a,69x,a)')            ' │',                                                     '│'
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(a)')                  ' └'//IO_DIVIDER//'┘'
-  flush(IO_STDERR)
+  call panel('error',error_ID,msg, &
+                 ext_msg=ext_msg, &
+                 label1=label1,ID1=ID1, &
+                 label2=label2,ID2=ID2)
   call quit(9000+error_ID)
-  !$OMP END CRITICAL (write2out)
 
 end subroutine IO_error
 
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-!> @brief Write warning statement to standard out.
+!> @brief Write warning statements.
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-subroutine IO_warning(warning_ID,el,ip,g,ext_msg)
+subroutine IO_warning(warning_ID,ext_msg,label1,ID1,label2,ID2)
 
   integer,                    intent(in) :: warning_ID
-  integer,          optional, intent(in) :: el,ip,g
-  character(len=*), optional, intent(in) :: ext_msg
+  character(len=*), optional, intent(in) :: ext_msg,label1,label2
+  integer,          optional, intent(in) :: ID1,ID2
 
   character(len=:), allocatable :: msg
-  character(len=pStringLen)     :: formatString
+
 
   select case (warning_ID)
     case (47)
-      msg = 'no valid parameter for FFTW, using FFTW_PATIENT'
+      msg = 'invalid parameter for FFTW'
     case (207)
       msg = 'line truncated'
     case (600)
@@ -600,33 +566,15 @@ subroutine IO_warning(warning_ID,el,ip,g,ext_msg)
       msg = 'stiffness close to zero'
     case (709)
       msg = 'read only the first document'
+
     case default
-      msg = 'unknown warning number'
+      error stop 'invalid warning number'
   end select
 
-  !$OMP CRITICAL (write2out)
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(/,a)')                ' ┌'//IO_DIVIDER//'┐'
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(a,24x,a,38x,a)')      ' │','warning',                                           '│'
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(a,24x,i3,42x,a)')     ' │',warning_ID,                                          '│'
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(a)')                  ' ├'//IO_DIVIDER//'┤'
-  write(formatString,'(a,i6.6,a,i6.6,a)') '(1x,a4,a',max(1,len_trim(msg)),',',&
-                                                     max(1,72-len_trim(msg)-4),'x,a)'
-  write(IO_STDERR,formatString)            '│ ',trim(msg),                                          '│'
-  if (present(ext_msg)) then
-    write(formatString,'(a,i6.6,a,i6.6,a)') '(1x,a4,a',max(1,len_trim(ext_msg)),',',&
-                                                       max(1,72-len_trim(ext_msg)-4),'x,a)'
-    write(IO_STDERR,formatString)          '│ ',trim(ext_msg),                                      '│'
-  endif
-  if (present(el)) &
-    write(IO_STDERR,'(a19,1x,i9,44x,a3)') ' │ at element    ',el,                                   '│'
-  if (present(ip)) &
-    write(IO_STDERR,'(a19,1x,i9,44x,a3)') ' │ at IP         ',ip,                                   '│'
-  if (present(g)) &
-    write(IO_STDERR,'(a19,1x,i9,44x,a3)') ' │ at constituent',g,                                    '│'
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(a,69x,a)')            ' │',                                                     '│'
-  write(IO_STDERR,'(a)')                  ' └'//IO_DIVIDER//'┘'
-  flush(IO_STDERR)
-  !$OMP END CRITICAL (write2out)
+  call panel('warning',warning_ID,msg, &
+                 ext_msg=ext_msg, &
+                 label1=label1,ID1=ID1, &
+                 label2=label2,ID2=ID2)
 
 end subroutine IO_warning
 
@@ -654,7 +602,61 @@ pure function CRLF2LF(string)
 
   CRLF2LF = CRLF2LF(:c-n)
 
-end function
+end function CRLF2LF
+
+
+!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+!> @brief Write statements to standard error.
+!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+subroutine panel(paneltype,ID,msg,ext_msg,label1,ID1,label2,ID2)
+
+  character(len=*),           intent(in) :: paneltype,msg
+  character(len=*), optional, intent(in) :: ext_msg,label1,label2
+  integer,                    intent(in) :: ID
+  integer,          optional, intent(in) :: ID1,ID2
+
+  character(len=pStringLen)              :: formatString
+  integer, parameter                     :: panelwidth = 69
+  character(len=*), parameter            :: DIVIDER = repeat('─',panelwidth)
+
+
+  if (.not. present(label1) .and.       present(ID1)) error stop 'missing label for value 1'
+  if (.not. present(label2) .and.       present(ID2)) error stop 'missing label for value 2'
+  if (      present(label1) .and. .not. present(ID1)) error stop 'missing value for label 1'
+  if (      present(label2) .and. .not. present(ID2)) error stop 'missing value for label 2'
+
+  !$OMP CRITICAL (write2out)
+  write(IO_STDERR,'(/,a)')                ' ┌'//DIVIDER//'┐'
+  write(formatString,'(a,i2,a)') '(a,24x,a,',max(1,panelwidth-24-len_trim(paneltype)),'x,a)'
+  write(IO_STDERR,formatString)          ' │',trim(paneltype),                                      '│'
+  write(formatString,'(a,i2,a)') '(a,24x,i3,',max(1,panelwidth-24-3),'x,a)'
+  write(IO_STDERR,formatString)          ' │',ID,                                                   '│'
+  write(IO_STDERR,'(a)')                  ' ├'//DIVIDER//'┤'
+  write(formatString,'(a,i3.3,a,i3.3,a)') '(1x,a4,a',max(1,len_trim(msg)),',',&
+                                                     max(1,panelwidth+3-len_trim(msg)-4),'x,a)'
+  write(IO_STDERR,formatString)            '│ ',trim(msg),                                          '│'
+  if (present(ext_msg)) then
+    write(formatString,'(a,i3.3,a,i3.3,a)') '(1x,a4,a',max(1,len_trim(ext_msg)),',',&
+                                                       max(1,panelwidth+3-len_trim(ext_msg)-4),'x,a)'
+    write(IO_STDERR,formatString)          '│ ',trim(ext_msg),                                      '│'
+  endif
+  if (present(label1)) then
+    write(formatString,'(a,i3.3,a,i3.3,a)') '(1x,a7,a',max(1,len_trim(label1)),',i9,',&
+                                                       max(1,panelwidth+3-len_trim(label1)-9-7),'x,a)'
+    write(IO_STDERR,formatString)          '│ at ',trim(label1),ID1,                                '│'
+  endif
+  if (present(label2)) then
+    write(formatString,'(a,i3.3,a,i3.3,a)') '(1x,a7,a',max(1,len_trim(label2)),',i9,',&
+                                                       max(1,panelwidth+3-len_trim(label2)-9-7),'x,a)'
+    write(IO_STDERR,formatString)          '│ at ',trim(label2),ID2,                                '│'
+  endif
+  write(formatString,'(a,i2.2,a)') '(a,',max(1,panelwidth),'x,a)'
+  write(IO_STDERR,formatString)          ' │',                                                     '│'
+  write(IO_STDERR,'(a)')                  ' └'//DIVIDER//'┘'
+  flush(IO_STDERR)
+  !$OMP END CRITICAL (write2out)
+
+end subroutine panel
 
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -665,6 +667,7 @@ subroutine selfTest()
   integer, dimension(:), allocatable :: chunkPos
   character(len=:),      allocatable :: str
 
+
   if(dNeq(1.0_pReal, IO_stringAsFloat('1.0')))      error stop 'IO_stringAsFloat'
   if(dNeq(1.0_pReal, IO_stringAsFloat('1e0')))      error stop 'IO_stringAsFloat'
   if(dNeq(0.1_pReal, IO_stringAsFloat('1e-1')))     error stop 'IO_stringAsFloat'
diff --git a/src/Marc/discretization_Marc.f90 b/src/Marc/discretization_Marc.f90
index c1525b05e..8886e3ebb 100644
--- a/src/Marc/discretization_Marc.f90
+++ b/src/Marc/discretization_Marc.f90
@@ -80,13 +80,13 @@ subroutine discretization_Marc_init
 
   num_commercialFEM => config_numerics%get('commercialFEM',defaultVal = emptyDict)
   mesh_unitlength = num_commercialFEM%get_asFloat('unitlength',defaultVal=1.0_pReal)                ! set physical extent of a length unit in mesh
-  if (mesh_unitlength <= 0.0_pReal) call IO_error(301,ext_msg='unitlength')
+  if (mesh_unitlength <= 0.0_pReal) call IO_error(301,'unitlength')
 
   call inputRead(elem,node0_elem,connectivity_elem,materialAt)
   nElems = size(connectivity_elem,2)
 
-  if (debug_e < 1 .or. debug_e > nElems)    call IO_error(602,ext_msg='element')
-  if (debug_i < 1 .or. debug_i > elem%nIPs) call IO_error(602,ext_msg='IP')
+  if (debug_e < 1 .or. debug_e > nElems)    call IO_error(602,'element')
+  if (debug_i < 1 .or. debug_i > elem%nIPs) call IO_error(602,'IP')
 
   allocate(cellNodeDefinition(elem%nNodes-1))
   allocate(connectivity_cell(elem%NcellNodesPerCell,elem%nIPs,nElems))
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ subroutine inputRead_elemType(elem, &
   character(len=*), dimension(:), intent(in)  :: fileContent                                        !< file content, separated per lines
 
   integer, allocatable, dimension(:) :: chunkPos
-  integer :: i,j,t,l,remainingChunks
+  integer :: i,j,t,t_,l,remainingChunks
 
 
   t = -1
@@ -594,7 +594,8 @@ subroutine inputRead_elemType(elem, &
           t = mapElemtype(IO_stringValue(fileContent(l+1+i+j),chunkPos,2))
           call elem%init(t)
         else
-          if (t /= mapElemtype(IO_stringValue(fileContent(l+1+i+j),chunkPos,2))) call IO_error(191,el=t,ip=i)
+          t_ = mapElemtype(IO_stringValue(fileContent(l+1+i+j),chunkPos,2))
+          if (t /= t_) call IO_error(191,IO_stringValue(fileContent(l+1+i+j),chunkPos,2),label1='type',ID1=t)
         endif
         remainingChunks = elem%nNodes - (chunkPos(1) - 2)
         do while(remainingChunks > 0)
@@ -616,7 +617,8 @@ subroutine inputRead_elemType(elem, &
 
    character(len=*), intent(in) :: what
 
-   select case (IO_lc(what))
+
+   select case (what)
       case (   '6')
         mapElemtype = 1            ! Two-dimensional Plane Strain Triangle
       case ( '125')                ! 155, 128 (need test)
@@ -644,7 +646,7 @@ subroutine inputRead_elemType(elem, &
       case ( '21')
         mapElemtype = 13           ! Three-dimensional Arbitrarily Distorted quadratic hexahedral
       case default
-        call IO_error(error_ID=190,ext_msg=IO_lc(what))
+        call IO_error(190,what)
    end select
 
   end function mapElemtype
diff --git a/src/Marc/element.f90 b/src/Marc/element.f90
index 295a41547..b53322f34 100644
--- a/src/Marc/element.f90
+++ b/src/Marc/element.f90
@@ -714,7 +714,7 @@ subroutine tElement_init(self,elemType)
     case(13)
       self%cellNodeParentNodeWeights = CELLNODEPARENTNODEWEIGHTS13
     case default
-      call IO_error(0,ext_msg='invalid element type')
+      error stop 'invalid element type'
   end select
 
 
diff --git a/src/Marc/materialpoint_Marc.f90 b/src/Marc/materialpoint_Marc.f90
index 79b06b80d..2ad98109d 100644
--- a/src/Marc/materialpoint_Marc.f90
+++ b/src/Marc/materialpoint_Marc.f90
@@ -240,7 +240,8 @@ subroutine materialpoint_general(mode, ffn, ffn1, temperature_inp, dt, elFE, ip,
 
   endif
 
-  if (all(abs(materialpoint_dcsdE(1:6,1:6,ip,elCP)) < 1e-10_pReal)) call IO_warning(601,elCP,ip)
+  if (all(abs(materialpoint_dcsdE(1:6,1:6,ip,elCP)) < 1e-10_pReal)) &
+    call IO_warning(601,label1='element (CP)',ID1=elCP,label2='IP',ID2=ip)
 
   cauchyStress = materialpoint_cs   (1:6,    ip,elCP)
   jacobian     = materialpoint_dcsdE(1:6,1:6,ip,elCP)
diff --git a/src/grid/DAMASK_grid.f90 b/src/grid/DAMASK_grid.f90
index 824d867c5..0d41338a1 100644
--- a/src/grid/DAMASK_grid.f90
+++ b/src/grid/DAMASK_grid.f90
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ program DAMASK_grid
       if (loadCases(l)%f_restart < huge(0)) &
         print'(2x,a,1x,i0)',   'f_restart:', loadCases(l)%f_restart
 
-      if (errorID > 0) call IO_error(error_ID = errorID, el = l)
+      if (errorID > 0) call IO_error(errorID,label1='line',ID1=l)
 
     endif reportAndCheck
   enddo
diff --git a/src/grid/grid_mech_FEM.f90 b/src/grid/grid_mech_FEM.f90
index 53d788987..52be43362 100644
--- a/src/grid/grid_mech_FEM.f90
+++ b/src/grid/grid_mech_FEM.f90
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ subroutine grid_mechanical_FEM_init
   class(tNode), pointer :: &
     num_grid, &
     debug_grid
+  character(len=pStringLen) :: &
+    extmsg = ''
 
   print'(/,1x,a)', '<<<+-  grid_mechanical_FEM init  -+>>>'; flush(IO_STDOUT)
 
@@ -134,12 +136,14 @@ subroutine grid_mechanical_FEM_init
   num%itmin           = num_grid%get_asInt  ('itmin',defaultVal=1)
   num%itmax           = num_grid%get_asInt  ('itmax',defaultVal=250)
 
-  if (num%eps_div_atol <= 0.0_pReal)             call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_div_atol')
-  if (num%eps_div_rtol < 0.0_pReal)              call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_div_rtol')
-  if (num%eps_stress_atol <= 0.0_pReal)          call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_stress_atol')
-  if (num%eps_stress_rtol < 0.0_pReal)           call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_stress_rtol')
-  if (num%itmax <= 1)                            call IO_error(301,ext_msg='itmax')
-  if (num%itmin > num%itmax .or. num%itmin < 1)  call IO_error(301,ext_msg='itmin')
+  if (num%eps_div_atol <= 0.0_pReal)             extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_div_atol'
+  if (num%eps_div_rtol < 0.0_pReal)              extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_div_rtol'
+  if (num%eps_stress_atol <= 0.0_pReal)          extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_stress_atol'
+  if (num%eps_stress_rtol < 0.0_pReal)           extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_stress_rtol'
+  if (num%itmax <= 1)                            extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' itmax'
+  if (num%itmin > num%itmax .or. num%itmin < 1)  extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' itmin'
+
+  if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(301,ext_msg=trim(extmsg))
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ! set default and user defined options for PETSc
diff --git a/src/grid/grid_mech_spectral_basic.f90 b/src/grid/grid_mech_spectral_basic.f90
index c0b85d00e..7931be0c7 100644
--- a/src/grid/grid_mech_spectral_basic.f90
+++ b/src/grid/grid_mech_spectral_basic.f90
@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ subroutine grid_mechanical_spectral_basic_init
   class (tNode), pointer :: &
     num_grid, &
     debug_grid
+  character(len=pStringLen) :: &
+    extmsg = ''
 
   print'(/,1x,a)', '<<<+-  grid_mechanical_spectral_basic init  -+>>>'; flush(IO_STDOUT)
 
@@ -143,12 +145,14 @@ subroutine grid_mechanical_spectral_basic_init
   num%itmin           = num_grid%get_asInt  ('itmin',defaultVal=1)
   num%itmax           = num_grid%get_asInt  ('itmax',defaultVal=250)
 
-  if (num%eps_div_atol <= 0.0_pReal)             call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_div_atol')
-  if (num%eps_div_rtol < 0.0_pReal)              call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_div_rtol')
-  if (num%eps_stress_atol <= 0.0_pReal)          call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_stress_atol')
-  if (num%eps_stress_rtol < 0.0_pReal)           call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_stress_rtol')
-  if (num%itmax <= 1)                            call IO_error(301,ext_msg='itmax')
-  if (num%itmin > num%itmax .or. num%itmin < 1)  call IO_error(301,ext_msg='itmin')
+  if (num%eps_div_atol <= 0.0_pReal)             extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_div_atol'
+  if (num%eps_div_rtol < 0.0_pReal)              extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_div_rtol'
+  if (num%eps_stress_atol <= 0.0_pReal)          extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_stress_atol'
+  if (num%eps_stress_rtol < 0.0_pReal)           extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_stress_rtol'
+  if (num%itmax <= 1)                            extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' itmax'
+  if (num%itmin > num%itmax .or. num%itmin < 1)  extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' itmin'
+
+  if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(301,ext_msg=trim(extmsg))
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ! set default and user defined options for PETSc
diff --git a/src/grid/grid_mech_spectral_polarisation.f90 b/src/grid/grid_mech_spectral_polarisation.f90
index ec27c7390..198e333d5 100644
--- a/src/grid/grid_mech_spectral_polarisation.f90
+++ b/src/grid/grid_mech_spectral_polarisation.f90
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ subroutine grid_mechanical_spectral_polarisation_init
   class (tNode), pointer :: &
     num_grid, &
     debug_grid
+  character(len=pStringLen) :: &
+    extmsg = ''
 
   print'(/,1x,a)', '<<<+-  grid_mechanical_spectral_polarization init  -+>>>'; flush(IO_STDOUT)
 
@@ -157,16 +159,18 @@ subroutine grid_mechanical_spectral_polarisation_init
   num%alpha           = num_grid%get_asFloat('alpha',          defaultVal=1.0_pReal)
   num%beta            = num_grid%get_asFloat('beta',           defaultVal=1.0_pReal)
 
-  if (num%eps_div_atol <= 0.0_pReal)                      call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_div_atol')
-  if (num%eps_div_rtol < 0.0_pReal)                       call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_div_rtol')
-  if (num%eps_curl_atol <= 0.0_pReal)                     call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_curl_atol')
-  if (num%eps_curl_rtol < 0.0_pReal)                      call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_curl_rtol')
-  if (num%eps_stress_atol <= 0.0_pReal)                   call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_stress_atol')
-  if (num%eps_stress_rtol < 0.0_pReal)                    call IO_error(301,ext_msg='eps_stress_rtol')
-  if (num%itmax <= 1)                                     call IO_error(301,ext_msg='itmax')
-  if (num%itmin > num%itmax .or. num%itmin < 1)           call IO_error(301,ext_msg='itmin')
-  if (num%alpha <= 0.0_pReal .or. num%alpha >  2.0_pReal) call IO_error(301,ext_msg='alpha')
-  if (num%beta < 0.0_pReal .or. num%beta > 2.0_pReal)     call IO_error(301,ext_msg='beta')
+  if (num%eps_div_atol <= 0.0_pReal)                      extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_div_atol'
+  if (num%eps_div_rtol < 0.0_pReal)                       extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_div_rtol'
+  if (num%eps_curl_atol <= 0.0_pReal)                     extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_curl_atol'
+  if (num%eps_curl_rtol < 0.0_pReal)                      extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_curl_rtol'
+  if (num%eps_stress_atol <= 0.0_pReal)                   extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_stress_atol'
+  if (num%eps_stress_rtol < 0.0_pReal)                    extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' eps_stress_rtol'
+  if (num%itmax <= 1)                                     extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' itmax'
+  if (num%itmin > num%itmax .or. num%itmin < 1)           extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' itmin'
+  if (num%alpha <= 0.0_pReal .or. num%alpha >  2.0_pReal) extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' alpha'
+  if (num%beta < 0.0_pReal .or. num%beta > 2.0_pReal)     extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' beta'
+
+  if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(301,ext_msg=trim(extmsg))
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ! set default and user defined options for PETSc
diff --git a/src/grid/spectral_utilities.f90 b/src/grid/spectral_utilities.f90
index c8321f83f..82f7938a2 100644
--- a/src/grid/spectral_utilities.f90
+++ b/src/grid/spectral_utilities.f90
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ subroutine spectral_utilities_init()
     case('fftw_exhaustive')
       FFTW_planner_flag = FFTW_EXHAUSTIVE
     case default
-      call IO_warning(warning_ID=47,ext_msg=trim(IO_lc(num_grid%get_asString('fftw_plan_mode'))))
+      call IO_warning(47,'using default FFTW_MEASURE instead of "'//trim(num_grid%get_asString('fftw_plan_mode'))//'"')
       FFTW_planner_flag = FFTW_MEASURE
   end select
 
diff --git a/src/lattice.f90 b/src/lattice.f90
index afff2a309..1496deb78 100644
--- a/src/lattice.f90
+++ b/src/lattice.f90
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ function lattice_C66_trans(Ntrans,C_parent66,lattice_target, &
 
   do i = 1,6
     if (abs(C_target_unrotated66(i,i))<tol_math_check) &
-    call IO_error(135,el=i,ext_msg='matrix diagonal "el"ement in transformation')
+    call IO_error(135,'matrix diagonal in transformation',label1='entry',ID1=i)
   enddo
 
   call buildTransformationSystem(Q,S,Ntrans,cOverA_trans,a_cF,a_cI)
@@ -1431,7 +1431,7 @@ function lattice_SchmidMatrix_slip(Nslip,lattice,cOverA) result(SchmidMatrix)
   do i = 1, sum(Nslip)
     SchmidMatrix(1:3,1:3,i) = math_outer(coordinateSystem(1:3,1,i),coordinateSystem(1:3,2,i))
     if (abs(math_trace33(SchmidMatrix(1:3,1:3,i))) > tol_math_check) &
-      call IO_error(0,i,ext_msg = 'dilatational Schmid matrix for slip')
+      error stop 'dilatational Schmid matrix for slip'
   enddo
 
 end function lattice_SchmidMatrix_slip
@@ -1478,7 +1478,7 @@ function lattice_SchmidMatrix_twin(Ntwin,lattice,cOverA) result(SchmidMatrix)
   do i = 1, sum(Ntwin)
     SchmidMatrix(1:3,1:3,i) = math_outer(coordinateSystem(1:3,1,i),coordinateSystem(1:3,2,i))
     if (abs(math_trace33(SchmidMatrix(1:3,1:3,i))) > tol_math_check) &
-      call IO_error(0,i,ext_msg = 'dilatational Schmid matrix for twin')
+      error stop 'dilatational Schmid matrix for twin'
   enddo
 
 end function lattice_SchmidMatrix_twin
diff --git a/src/phase.f90 b/src/phase.f90
index 2ce559a99..af7197f7b 100644
--- a/src/phase.f90
+++ b/src/phase.f90
@@ -539,7 +539,8 @@ subroutine crystallite_init()
   class(tNode), pointer :: &
     num_crystallite, &
     phases
-
+  character(len=pStringLen) :: &
+    extmsg = ''
 
   num_crystallite => config_numerics%get('crystallite',defaultVal=emptyDict)
 
@@ -555,22 +556,19 @@ subroutine crystallite_init()
   num%nState                 = num_crystallite%get_asInt   ('nState',           defaultVal=20)
   num%nStress                = num_crystallite%get_asInt   ('nStress',          defaultVal=40)
 
-  if (num%subStepMinCryst   <= 0.0_pReal)      call IO_error(301,ext_msg='subStepMinCryst')
-  if (num%subStepSizeCryst  <= 0.0_pReal)      call IO_error(301,ext_msg='subStepSizeCryst')
-  if (num%stepIncreaseCryst <= 0.0_pReal)      call IO_error(301,ext_msg='stepIncreaseCryst')
-
-  if (num%subStepSizeLp <= 0.0_pReal)          call IO_error(301,ext_msg='subStepSizeLp')
-  if (num%subStepSizeLi <= 0.0_pReal)          call IO_error(301,ext_msg='subStepSizeLi')
-
-  if (num%rtol_crystalliteState  <= 0.0_pReal) call IO_error(301,ext_msg='rtol_crystalliteState')
-  if (num%rtol_crystalliteStress <= 0.0_pReal) call IO_error(301,ext_msg='rtol_crystalliteStress')
-  if (num%atol_crystalliteStress <= 0.0_pReal) call IO_error(301,ext_msg='atol_crystalliteStress')
-
-  if (num%iJacoLpresiduum < 1)                 call IO_error(301,ext_msg='iJacoLpresiduum')
-
-  if (num%nState < 1)                          call IO_error(301,ext_msg='nState')
-  if (num%nStress< 1)                          call IO_error(301,ext_msg='nStress')
+  if (num%subStepMinCryst   <= 0.0_pReal)      extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' subStepMinCryst'
+  if (num%subStepSizeCryst  <= 0.0_pReal)      extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' subStepSizeCryst'
+  if (num%stepIncreaseCryst <= 0.0_pReal)      extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' stepIncreaseCryst'
+  if (num%subStepSizeLp <= 0.0_pReal)          extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' subStepSizeLp'
+  if (num%subStepSizeLi <= 0.0_pReal)          extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' subStepSizeLi'
+  if (num%rtol_crystalliteState  <= 0.0_pReal) extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' rtol_crystalliteState'
+  if (num%rtol_crystalliteStress <= 0.0_pReal) extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' rtol_crystalliteStress'
+  if (num%atol_crystalliteStress <= 0.0_pReal) extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' atol_crystalliteStress'
+  if (num%iJacoLpresiduum < 1)                 extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' iJacoLpresiduum'
+  if (num%nState  < 1)                         extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' nState'
+  if (num%nStress < 1)                         extmsg = trim(extmsg)//' nStress'
 
+  if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(301,ext_msg=trim(extmsg))
 
   phases => config_material%get('phase')
 
diff --git a/src/phase_mechanical.f90 b/src/phase_mechanical.f90
index 88b86a8d9..afde549fc 100644
--- a/src/phase_mechanical.f90
+++ b/src/phase_mechanical.f90
@@ -1167,8 +1167,8 @@ module function phase_mechanical_dPdF(Delta_t,co,ce) result(dPdF)
     enddo; enddo
     call math_invert(temp_99,error,math_3333to99(lhs_3333))
     if (error) then
-      call IO_warning(warning_ID=600, &
-                      ext_msg='inversion error in analytic tangent calculation')
+      call IO_warning(600,'inversion error in analytic tangent calculation', &
+                      label1='phase',ID1=ph,label2='entry',ID2=en)
       dFidS = 0.0_pReal
     else
       dFidS = math_mul3333xx3333(math_99to3333(temp_99),rhs_3333)
@@ -1201,8 +1201,8 @@ module function phase_mechanical_dPdF(Delta_t,co,ce) result(dPdF)
 
   call math_invert(temp_99,error,math_eye(9)+math_3333to99(lhs_3333))
   if (error) then
-    call IO_warning(warning_ID=600, &
-                    ext_msg='inversion error in analytic tangent calculation')
+    call IO_warning(600,'inversion error in analytic tangent calculation', &
+                    label1='phase',ID1=ph,label2='entry',ID2=en)
     dSdF = rhs_3333
   else
     dSdF = math_mul3333xx3333(math_99to3333(temp_99),rhs_3333)
diff --git a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_dislotungsten.f90 b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_dislotungsten.f90
index 5a6ac8f5c..9e72a1ebd 100644
--- a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_dislotungsten.f90
+++ b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_dislotungsten.f90
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ module function plastic_dislotungsten_init() result(myPlasticity)
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !  exit if any parameter is out of range
-    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg)//'(dislotungsten)')
+    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg))
 
   end do
 
diff --git a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_dislotwin.f90 b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_dislotwin.f90
index 3ecd13cc7..a29efeb56 100644
--- a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_dislotwin.f90
+++ b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_dislotwin.f90
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ module function plastic_dislotwin_init() result(myPlasticity)
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !  exit if any parameter is out of range
-    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg)//'(dislotwin)')
+    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg))
 
   end do
 
diff --git a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_isotropic.f90 b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_isotropic.f90
index bde6f0892..c855f5c25 100644
--- a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_isotropic.f90
+++ b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_isotropic.f90
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ module function plastic_isotropic_init() result(myPlasticity)
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !  exit if any parameter is out of range
-    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg)//'(isotropic)')
+    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg))
 
   end do
 
diff --git a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_kinehardening.f90 b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_kinehardening.f90
index 0f6bd53d4..bc8c7df4e 100644
--- a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_kinehardening.f90
+++ b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_kinehardening.f90
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ module function plastic_kinehardening_init() result(myPlasticity)
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !  exit if any parameter is out of range
-    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg)//'(kinehardening)')
+    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg))
 
   end do
 
diff --git a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_nonlocal.f90 b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_nonlocal.f90
index dbc02b7a4..4995f15d2 100644
--- a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_nonlocal.f90
+++ b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_nonlocal.f90
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ module function plastic_nonlocal_init() result(myPlasticity)
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !  exit if any parameter is out of range
-    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg)//'(nonlocal)')
+    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg))
 
   end do
 
diff --git a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_phenopowerlaw.f90 b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_phenopowerlaw.f90
index 0b018562c..f0dc04869 100644
--- a/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_phenopowerlaw.f90
+++ b/src/phase_mechanical_plastic_phenopowerlaw.f90
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ module function plastic_phenopowerlaw_init() result(myPlasticity)
 
 !--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !  exit if any parameter is out of range
-    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg)//'(phenopowerlaw)')
+    if (extmsg /= '') call IO_error(211,ext_msg=trim(extmsg))
 
   end do
 
diff --git a/src/quit.f90 b/src/quit.f90
index 3c5f5e6f2..aa8bcb0fb 100644
--- a/src/quit.f90
+++ b/src/quit.f90
@@ -18,22 +18,22 @@ subroutine quit(stop_id)
   integer :: err_HDF5
   integer(MPI_INTEGER_KIND) :: err_MPI
   PetscErrorCode :: err_PETSc
- 
+
   call h5open_f(err_HDF5)
   if (err_HDF5 /= 0_MPI_INTEGER_KIND) write(6,'(a,i5)') ' Error in h5open_f ',err_HDF5                               ! prevents error if not opened yet
   call h5close_f(err_HDF5)
   if (err_HDF5 /= 0_MPI_INTEGER_KIND) write(6,'(a,i5)') ' Error in h5close_f ',err_HDF5
- 
+
   call PetscFinalize(err_PETSc)
   CHKERRQ(err_PETSc)
- 
+
 #ifdef _OPENMP
   call MPI_finalize(err_MPI)
   if (err_MPI /= 0_MPI_INTEGER_KIND) write(6,'(a,i5)') ' Error in MPI_finalize',err_MPI
 #else
   err_MPI = 0_MPI_INTEGER_KIND
 #endif
-  
+
   call date_and_time(values = dateAndTime)
   write(6,'(/,a)') ' DAMASK terminated on:'
   write(6,'(a,2(i2.2,a),i4.4)') ' Date:               ',dateAndTime(3),'/',&
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ subroutine quit(stop_id)
   write(6,'(a,2(i2.2,a),i2.2)') ' Time:               ',dateAndTime(5),':',&
                                                         dateAndTime(6),':',&
                                                         dateAndTime(7)
- 
+
   if (stop_id == 0 .and. &
       err_HDF5 == 0 .and. &
       err_MPI == 0_MPI_INTEGER_KIND .and. &