diff --git a/api/api_full.go b/api/api_full.go
index 2a1d830ed..6feeb12cf 100644
--- a/api/api_full.go
+++ b/api/api_full.go
@@ -244,7 +244,10 @@ type FullNode interface {
 	// ClientMinerQueryOffer returns a QueryOffer for the specific miner and file.
 	ClientMinerQueryOffer(ctx context.Context, miner address.Address, root cid.Cid, piece *cid.Cid) (QueryOffer, error)
 	// ClientRetrieve initiates the retrieval of a file, as specified in the order.
-	ClientRetrieve(ctx context.Context, order RetrievalOrder, ref *FileRef) (<-chan marketevents.RetrievalEvent, error)
+	ClientRetrieve(ctx context.Context, order RetrievalOrder, ref *FileRef) error
+	// ClientRetrieveWithEvents initiates the retrieval of a file, as specified in the order, and provides a channel
+	// of status updates.
+	ClientRetrieveWithEvents(ctx context.Context, order RetrievalOrder, ref *FileRef) (<-chan marketevents.RetrievalEvent, error)
 	// ClientQueryAsk returns a signed StorageAsk from the specified miner.
 	ClientQueryAsk(ctx context.Context, p peer.ID, miner address.Address) (*storagemarket.SignedStorageAsk, error)
 	// ClientCalcCommP calculates the CommP for a specified file
diff --git a/api/apistruct/struct.go b/api/apistruct/struct.go
index eabf4fa26..8fb8e68ed 100644
--- a/api/apistruct/struct.go
+++ b/api/apistruct/struct.go
@@ -127,20 +127,21 @@ type FullNodeStruct struct {
 		WalletImport         func(context.Context, *types.KeyInfo) (address.Address, error)                       `perm:"admin"`
 		WalletDelete         func(context.Context, address.Address) error                                         `perm:"write"`
 
-		ClientImport          func(ctx context.Context, ref api.FileRef) (*api.ImportRes, error)                                                `perm:"admin"`
-		ClientListImports     func(ctx context.Context) ([]api.Import, error)                                                                   `perm:"write"`
-		ClientRemoveImport    func(ctx context.Context, importID multistore.StoreID) error                                                      `perm:"admin"`
-		ClientHasLocal        func(ctx context.Context, root cid.Cid) (bool, error)                                                             `perm:"write"`
-		ClientFindData        func(ctx context.Context, root cid.Cid, piece *cid.Cid) ([]api.QueryOffer, error)                                 `perm:"read"`
-		ClientMinerQueryOffer func(ctx context.Context, miner address.Address, root cid.Cid, piece *cid.Cid) (api.QueryOffer, error)            `perm:"read"`
-		ClientStartDeal       func(ctx context.Context, params *api.StartDealParams) (*cid.Cid, error)                                          `perm:"admin"`
-		ClientGetDealInfo     func(context.Context, cid.Cid) (*api.DealInfo, error)                                                             `perm:"read"`
-		ClientListDeals       func(ctx context.Context) ([]api.DealInfo, error)                                                                 `perm:"write"`
-		ClientRetrieve        func(ctx context.Context, order api.RetrievalOrder, ref *api.FileRef) (<-chan marketevents.RetrievalEvent, error) `perm:"admin"`
-		ClientQueryAsk        func(ctx context.Context, p peer.ID, miner address.Address) (*storagemarket.SignedStorageAsk, error)              `perm:"read"`
-		ClientCalcCommP       func(ctx context.Context, inpath string) (*api.CommPRet, error)                                                   `perm:"read"`
-		ClientGenCar          func(ctx context.Context, ref api.FileRef, outpath string) error                                                  `perm:"write"`
-		ClientDealSize        func(ctx context.Context, root cid.Cid) (api.DataSize, error)                                                     `perm:"read"`
+		ClientImport             func(ctx context.Context, ref api.FileRef) (*api.ImportRes, error)                                                `perm:"admin"`
+		ClientListImports        func(ctx context.Context) ([]api.Import, error)                                                                   `perm:"write"`
+		ClientRemoveImport       func(ctx context.Context, importID multistore.StoreID) error                                                      `perm:"admin"`
+		ClientHasLocal           func(ctx context.Context, root cid.Cid) (bool, error)                                                             `perm:"write"`
+		ClientFindData           func(ctx context.Context, root cid.Cid, piece *cid.Cid) ([]api.QueryOffer, error)                                 `perm:"read"`
+		ClientMinerQueryOffer    func(ctx context.Context, miner address.Address, root cid.Cid, piece *cid.Cid) (api.QueryOffer, error)            `perm:"read"`
+		ClientStartDeal          func(ctx context.Context, params *api.StartDealParams) (*cid.Cid, error)                                          `perm:"admin"`
+		ClientGetDealInfo        func(context.Context, cid.Cid) (*api.DealInfo, error)                                                             `perm:"read"`
+		ClientListDeals          func(ctx context.Context) ([]api.DealInfo, error)                                                                 `perm:"write"`
+		ClientRetrieve           func(ctx context.Context, order api.RetrievalOrder, ref *api.FileRef) error                                       `perm:"admin"`
+		ClientRetrieveWithEvents func(ctx context.Context, order api.RetrievalOrder, ref *api.FileRef) (<-chan marketevents.RetrievalEvent, error) `perm:"admin"`
+		ClientQueryAsk           func(ctx context.Context, p peer.ID, miner address.Address) (*storagemarket.SignedStorageAsk, error)              `perm:"read"`
+		ClientCalcCommP          func(ctx context.Context, inpath string) (*api.CommPRet, error)                                                   `perm:"read"`
+		ClientGenCar             func(ctx context.Context, ref api.FileRef, outpath string) error                                                  `perm:"write"`
+		ClientDealSize           func(ctx context.Context, root cid.Cid) (api.DataSize, error)                                                     `perm:"read"`
 
 		StateNetworkName                   func(context.Context) (dtypes.NetworkName, error)                                                                   `perm:"read"`
 		StateMinerSectors                  func(context.Context, address.Address, *abi.BitField, bool, types.TipSetKey) ([]*api.ChainSectorInfo, error)        `perm:"read"`
@@ -425,10 +426,14 @@ func (c *FullNodeStruct) ClientListDeals(ctx context.Context) ([]api.DealInfo, e
 	return c.Internal.ClientListDeals(ctx)
 }
 
-func (c *FullNodeStruct) ClientRetrieve(ctx context.Context, order api.RetrievalOrder, ref *api.FileRef) (<-chan marketevents.RetrievalEvent, error) {
+func (c *FullNodeStruct) ClientRetrieve(ctx context.Context, order api.RetrievalOrder, ref *api.FileRef) error {
 	return c.Internal.ClientRetrieve(ctx, order, ref)
 }
 
+func (c *FullNodeStruct) ClientRetrieveWithEvents(ctx context.Context, order api.RetrievalOrder, ref *api.FileRef) (<-chan marketevents.RetrievalEvent, error) {
+	return c.Internal.ClientRetrieveWithEvents(ctx, order, ref)
+}
+
 func (c *FullNodeStruct) ClientQueryAsk(ctx context.Context, p peer.ID, miner address.Address) (*storagemarket.SignedStorageAsk, error) {
 	return c.Internal.ClientQueryAsk(ctx, p, miner)
 }
diff --git a/api/test/deals.go b/api/test/deals.go
index f30b5b8ac..054f26b8a 100644
--- a/api/test/deals.go
+++ b/api/test/deals.go
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ func testRetrieval(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, err error, client *impl.Fu
 		Path:  filepath.Join(rpath, "ret"),
 		IsCAR: carExport,
 	}
-	updates, err := client.ClientRetrieve(ctx, offers[0].Order(caddr), ref)
+	updates, err := client.ClientRetrieveWithEvents(ctx, offers[0].Order(caddr), ref)
 	for update := range updates {
 		if update.Err != "" {
 			t.Fatalf("%v", err)
diff --git a/cli/client.go b/cli/client.go
index c0d5972b0..777073292 100644
--- a/cli/client.go
+++ b/cli/client.go
@@ -847,7 +847,7 @@ var clientRetrieveCmd = &cli.Command{
 			Path:  cctx.Args().Get(1),
 			IsCAR: cctx.Bool("car"),
 		}
-		updates, err := fapi.ClientRetrieve(ctx, offer.Order(payer), ref)
+		updates, err := fapi.ClientRetrieveWithEvents(ctx, offer.Order(payer), ref)
 		if err != nil {
 			return xerrors.Errorf("error setting up retrieval: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -868,7 +868,7 @@ var clientRetrieveCmd = &cli.Command{
 				}
 
 				if evt.Err != "" {
-					return xerrors.Errorf("retrieval failed: %v", err)
+					return xerrors.Errorf("retrieval failed: %s", evt.Err)
 				}
 			case <-ctx.Done():
 				return xerrors.Errorf("retrieval timed out")
diff --git a/node/impl/client/client.go b/node/impl/client/client.go
index 70cd770f4..3b992fe54 100644
--- a/node/impl/client/client.go
+++ b/node/impl/client/client.go
@@ -400,7 +400,27 @@ func (a *API) ClientListImports(ctx context.Context) ([]api.Import, error) {
 	return out, nil
 }
 
-func (a *API) ClientRetrieve(ctx context.Context, order api.RetrievalOrder, ref *api.FileRef) (<-chan marketevents.RetrievalEvent, error) {
+func (a *API) ClientRetrieve(ctx context.Context, order api.RetrievalOrder, ref *api.FileRef) error {
+	events := make(chan marketevents.RetrievalEvent)
+	go a.clientRetrieve(ctx, order, ref, events)
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case evt, ok := <-events:
+			if !ok { // done successfully
+				return nil
+			}
+
+			if evt.Err != "" {
+				return xerrors.Errorf("retrieval failed: %s", evt.Err)
+			}
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return xerrors.Errorf("retrieval timed out")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (a *API) ClientRetrieveWithEvents(ctx context.Context, order api.RetrievalOrder, ref *api.FileRef) (<-chan marketevents.RetrievalEvent, error) {
 	events := make(chan marketevents.RetrievalEvent)
 	go a.clientRetrieve(ctx, order, ref, events)
 	return events, nil