diff --git a/src/backupformat/tgz.js b/src/backupformat/tgz.js
index 7489009ae..66247adab 100644
--- a/src/backupformat/tgz.js
+++ b/src/backupformat/tgz.js
@@ -39,19 +39,19 @@ function addToPack(pack, header, options) {
         const packEntry = safe(() => pack.entry(header, function (error) {
             if (error) {
                 debug(`addToPack: error adding ${header.name} ${header.type} ${error.message}`);
-                reject(error);
+                reject(new BoxError(BoxError.FS_ERROR, error.message));
             } else {
                 debug(`addToPack: added ${header.name} ${header.type}`);
                 resolve();
             }
         }));
 
-        if (packEntry && options?.input) {
-            safe(stream.pipeline(options.input, packEntry)); // background
+        if (!packEntry) {
+            return reject(new BoxError(BoxError.FS_ERROR, `Failed to add ${header.name}: ${safe.error.message}`));
         }
 
-        if (!packEntry) {
-            reject(new Error(`Failed to add ${header.name}: ${safe.error.message}`));
+        if (options?.input) {
+            safe(stream.pipeline(options.input, packEntry), { debug }); // background. rely on pack.entry callback for promise completion
         }
     });
 }
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ async function tarPack(dataLayout, encryption, uploader, progressCallback) {
 
     pack.finalize();
 
-    const [error] = await safe(pipeline);
+    const [error] = await pipeline; // already wrapped in safe()
     if (error) throw new BoxError(BoxError.EXTERNAL_ERROR, `tarPack pipeline error: ${error.message}`);
     debug(`tarPack: pipeline finished: ${JSON.stringify(ps.stats())}`);