error handling with $php_errormsg

Hi, I am trying to check for the existence of an error on a certain function inside a loop. The problem I am running into is that the old error, or rather warning is still in the $php_errormsg variable. Is there a way to clear the variable? Just reading the variable doesn't clear it. If not, then how does one check to see if the current error message is different from the last one, since the variable value may not have changed? I would rather not create an error manually (ie. call a non-existent object) to force a value change. I am using PHP 3.0.12 with apache 1.3.9 on LinuxPPC 2000. Thanks, David Willey dwilley@engr.psu.edu