diff --git a/TestConcoreHpp.cpp b/TestConcoreHpp.cpp
index 54df52b..64c7722 100644
--- a/TestConcoreHpp.cpp
+++ b/TestConcoreHpp.cpp
@@ -97,6 +97,20 @@ static void test_read_FM_missing_file_uses_initstr() {
     check("missing_file fallback val==3.0", approx(v[0], 3.0));
 }
 
+static void test_read_result_missing_file_status() {
+    setup_dirs();
+    rm("in1/no_port_status");
+
+    Concore c;
+    c.delay = 0;
+    c.simtime = 0.0;
+
+    Concore::ReadResult r = c.read_result(1, "no_port_status", "[9.0,3.0]");
+    check("read_result missing status FILE_NOT_FOUND",
+          r.status == Concore::ReadStatus::FILE_NOT_FOUND);
+    check("read_result missing uses initstr", r.data.size() == 1 && approx(r.data[0], 3.0));
+}
+
 // ------------- write_FM --------------------------------------------------
 
 static void test_write_FM_creates_file() {
@@ -274,6 +288,20 @@ static void test_tryparam_missing_key_uses_default() {
           c.tryparam("no_key", "def_val") == "def_val");
 }
 
+static void test_load_params_semicolon_format() {
+    setup_dirs();
+    write_file("in/1/concore.params", "a=1;b=2");
+
+    Concore c;
+    c.delay = 0;
+    c.load_params();
+
+    check("load_params semicolon parses a", c.tryparam("a", "") == "1");
+    check("load_params semicolon parses b", c.tryparam("b", "") == "2");
+
+    rm("in/1/concore.params");
+}
+
 // ------------- main -------------------------------------------------------
 
 int main() {
@@ -282,6 +310,7 @@ int main() {
     // read_FM / write_FM
     test_read_FM_file();
     test_read_FM_missing_file_uses_initstr();
+    test_read_result_missing_file_status();
     test_write_FM_creates_file();
 
     // unchanged()
@@ -307,6 +336,7 @@ int main() {
     // tryparam()
     test_tryparam_found();
     test_tryparam_missing_key_uses_default();
+    test_load_params_semicolon_format();
 
     std::cout << "\n=== Results: " << passed << " passed, " << failed
               << " failed out of " << (passed + failed) << " tests ===\n";
diff --git a/concore.hpp b/concore.hpp
index 5eb2b7e..eb88108 100644
--- a/concore.hpp
+++ b/concore.hpp
@@ -54,6 +54,19 @@ class Concore{
 #endif
 
  public:
+    enum class ReadStatus {
+        SUCCESS,
+        TIMEOUT,
+        PARSE_ERROR,
+        FILE_NOT_FOUND,
+        RETRIES_EXCEEDED
+    };
+
+    struct ReadResult {
+        ReadStatus status;
+        vector<double> data;
+    };
+
     double delay = 1;
     int retrycount = 0;
     double simtime;
@@ -61,6 +74,7 @@ class Concore{
     map <string, int> iport;
     map <string, int> oport;
     map <string, string> params;
+    ReadStatus last_read_status = ReadStatus::SUCCESS;
 
     /**
      * @brief Constructor for Concore class.
@@ -372,6 +386,14 @@ class Concore{
         return read_FM(port, name, initstr);
     }
 
+    ReadResult read_result(int port, string name, string initstr)
+    {
+        ReadResult result;
+        result.data = read(port, name, initstr);
+        result.status = last_read_status;
+        return result;
+    }
+
     /**
      * @brief Reads data from a specified port and name using the FM (File Method) communication protocol.
      * @param port The port number.
@@ -383,6 +405,7 @@ class Concore{
         chrono::milliseconds timespan((int)(1000*delay));
         this_thread::sleep_for(timespan);
         string ins;
+        ReadStatus status = ReadStatus::SUCCESS;
         try {
             ifstream infile;
             infile.open(inpath+to_string(port)+"/"+name, ios::in);
@@ -393,10 +416,13 @@ class Concore{
                 infile.close();
             }
             else {
+                status = ReadStatus::FILE_NOT_FOUND;
                 throw 505;}
         }
         catch (...) {
             ins = initstr;
+            if (status == ReadStatus::SUCCESS)
+                status = ReadStatus::FILE_NOT_FOUND;
         }
         
         int retry = 0;
@@ -424,14 +450,24 @@ class Concore{
             }
             retry++;
         }
+        if ((int)ins.length()==0)
+            status = ReadStatus::RETRIES_EXCEEDED;
         s += ins;
 
         vector<double> inval = parser(ins);
-        if(inval.empty())
+        if(inval.empty()) {
+            if (status == ReadStatus::SUCCESS)
+                status = ReadStatus::PARSE_ERROR;
             inval = parser(initstr);
-        if(inval.empty())
+        }
+        if(inval.empty()) {
+            if (status == ReadStatus::SUCCESS)
+                status = ReadStatus::PARSE_ERROR;
+            last_read_status = status;
             return inval;
+        }
         simtime = simtime > inval[0] ? simtime : inval[0];
+        last_read_status = status;
 
         //returning a string with data excluding simtime
         inval.erase(inval.begin());
@@ -450,6 +486,7 @@ class Concore{
         chrono::milliseconds timespan((int)(1000*delay));
         this_thread::sleep_for(timespan);
         string ins = "";
+        ReadStatus status = ReadStatus::SUCCESS;
         try {
         if (shmId_get != -1) {
             if (sharedData_get && sharedData_get[0] != '\0') {
@@ -463,10 +500,13 @@ class Concore{
         } 
         else 
         {
+            status = ReadStatus::FILE_NOT_FOUND;
             throw 505;
         }
         } catch (...) {
             ins = initstr;
+            if (status == ReadStatus::SUCCESS)
+                status = ReadStatus::FILE_NOT_FOUND;
         }
         
         int retry = 0;
@@ -490,14 +530,24 @@ class Concore{
             }
             retry++;
         }
+        if ((int)ins.length()==0)
+            status = ReadStatus::RETRIES_EXCEEDED;
         s += ins;
 
         vector<double> inval = parser(ins);
-        if(inval.empty())
+        if(inval.empty()) {
+            if (status == ReadStatus::SUCCESS)
+                status = ReadStatus::PARSE_ERROR;
             inval = parser(initstr);
-        if(inval.empty())
+        }
+        if(inval.empty()) {
+            if (status == ReadStatus::SUCCESS)
+                status = ReadStatus::PARSE_ERROR;
+            last_read_status = status;
             return inval;
+        }
         simtime = simtime > inval[0] ? simtime : inval[0];
+        last_read_status = status;
 
         //returning a string with data excluding simtime
         inval.erase(inval.begin());
@@ -674,15 +724,26 @@ class Concore{
      * @return a vector of double values
      */
     vector<double> read_ZMQ(string port_name, string name, string initstr) {
+        ReadStatus status = ReadStatus::SUCCESS;
         auto it = zmq_ports.find(port_name);
         if (it == zmq_ports.end()) {
             cerr << "read_ZMQ: port '" << port_name << "' not initialized" << endl;
+            status = ReadStatus::FILE_NOT_FOUND;
+            last_read_status = status;
             return parser(initstr);
         }
         vector<double> inval = it->second->recv_with_retry();
-        if (inval.empty())
+        if (inval.empty()) {
+            status = ReadStatus::TIMEOUT;
             inval = parser(initstr);
-        if (inval.empty()) return inval;
+        }
+        if (inval.empty()) {
+            if (status == ReadStatus::SUCCESS)
+                status = ReadStatus::PARSE_ERROR;
+            last_read_status = status;
+            return inval;
+        }
+        last_read_status = status;
         simtime = simtime > inval[0] ? simtime : inval[0];
         s += port_name;
         inval.erase(inval.begin());
@@ -736,6 +797,13 @@ class Concore{
         return read_ZMQ(port_name, name, initstr);
     }
 
+    ReadResult read_result(string port_name, string name, string initstr) {
+        ReadResult result;
+        result.data = read(port_name, name, initstr);
+        result.status = last_read_status;
+        return result;
+    }
+
     /**
      * @brief deviate the write to ZMQ communication protocol when port identifier is a string key.
      * @param port_name The ZMQ port name.
diff --git a/concore_base.hpp b/concore_base.hpp
index b4d9689..f38b6ed 100644
--- a/concore_base.hpp
+++ b/concore_base.hpp
@@ -345,10 +345,11 @@ inline std::map<std::string, std::string> load_params(const std::string& params_
 
     // Otherwise convert semicolon-separated key=value to dict format
     // e.g. "a=1;b=2" -> {"a":"1","b":"2"}
+    std::string normalized = std::regex_replace(sparams, std::regex(";"), ",");
     std::string converted = "{\"" +
         std::regex_replace(
             std::regex_replace(
-                std::regex_replace(sparams, std::regex(","), ",\""),
+                std::regex_replace(normalized, std::regex(","), ",\""),
                 std::regex("="), "\":"),
             std::regex(" "), "") +
         "}";
diff --git a/concoredocker.hpp b/concoredocker.hpp
index 651e5b3..51d6ca5 100644
--- a/concoredocker.hpp
+++ b/concoredocker.hpp
@@ -34,6 +34,19 @@ class Concore {
     int communication_oport = 0;  // oport refers to output port
 
 public:
+    enum class ReadStatus {
+        SUCCESS,
+        TIMEOUT,
+        PARSE_ERROR,
+        FILE_NOT_FOUND,
+        RETRIES_EXCEEDED
+    };
+
+    struct ReadResult {
+        ReadStatus status;
+        std::vector<double> data;
+    };
+
     std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string> iport;
     std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string> oport;
     std::string s, olds;
@@ -44,6 +57,7 @@ class Concore {
     double simtime = 0;
     double maxtime = 100;
     std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string> params;
+    ReadStatus last_read_status = ReadStatus::SUCCESS;
 #ifdef CONCORE_USE_ZMQ
     std::map<std::string, concore_base::ZeroMQPort*> zmq_ports;
 #endif
@@ -268,6 +282,7 @@ class Concore {
         if (communication_iport == 1)
             return read_SM(port, name, initstr);
 #endif
+        ReadStatus status = ReadStatus::SUCCESS;
         std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(delay));
         std::string file_path = inpath + "/" + std::to_string(port) + "/" + name;
         std::ifstream infile(file_path);
@@ -275,7 +290,10 @@ class Concore {
 
         if (!infile) {
             std::cerr << "File " << file_path << " not found, using default value.\n";
-            return concore_base::parselist_double(initstr);
+            status = ReadStatus::FILE_NOT_FOUND;
+            std::vector<double> fallback = concore_base::parselist_double(initstr);
+            last_read_status = status;
+            return fallback;
         }
         std::getline(infile, ins);
 
@@ -291,22 +309,38 @@ class Concore {
 
         if (ins.empty()) {
             std::cerr << "Max retries reached for " << file_path << ", using default value.\n";
-            return concore_base::parselist_double(initstr);
+            status = ReadStatus::RETRIES_EXCEEDED;
+            std::vector<double> fallback = concore_base::parselist_double(initstr);
+            last_read_status = status;
+            return fallback;
         }
 
         s += ins;
         std::vector<double> inval = concore_base::parselist_double(ins);
-        if (inval.empty())
+        if (inval.empty()) {
+            status = ReadStatus::PARSE_ERROR;
             inval = concore_base::parselist_double(initstr);
-        if (inval.empty())
+        }
+        if (inval.empty()) {
+            last_read_status = status;
             return inval;
+        }
+        last_read_status = status;
         simtime = simtime > inval[0] ? simtime : inval[0];
         inval.erase(inval.begin());
         return inval;
     }
 
+    ReadResult read_result(int port, const std::string& name, const std::string& initstr) {
+        ReadResult result;
+        result.data = read(port, name, initstr);
+        result.status = last_read_status;
+        return result;
+    }
+
 #ifdef __linux__
     std::vector<double> read_SM(int port, const std::string& name, const std::string& initstr) {
+        ReadStatus status = ReadStatus::SUCCESS;
         std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(delay));
         std::string ins;
         try {
@@ -315,6 +349,7 @@ class Concore {
             else
                 throw 505;
         } catch (...) {
+            status = ReadStatus::FILE_NOT_FOUND;
             ins = initstr;
         }
 
@@ -335,13 +370,21 @@ class Concore {
             }
             retry++;
         }
+        if ((int)ins.length() == 0)
+            status = ReadStatus::RETRIES_EXCEEDED;
 
         s += ins;
         std::vector<double> inval = concore_base::parselist_double(ins);
-        if (inval.empty())
+        if (inval.empty()) {
+            if (status == ReadStatus::SUCCESS)
+                status = ReadStatus::PARSE_ERROR;
             inval = concore_base::parselist_double(initstr);
-        if (inval.empty())
+        }
+        if (inval.empty()) {
+            last_read_status = status;
             return inval;
+        }
+        last_read_status = status;
         simtime = simtime > inval[0] ? simtime : inval[0];
         inval.erase(inval.begin());
         return inval;
@@ -403,15 +446,26 @@ class Concore {
     }
 
     std::vector<double> read_ZMQ(const std::string& port_name, const std::string& name, const std::string& initstr) {
+        ReadStatus status = ReadStatus::SUCCESS;
         auto it = zmq_ports.find(port_name);
         if (it == zmq_ports.end()) {
             std::cerr << "read_ZMQ: port '" << port_name << "' not initialized\n";
+            status = ReadStatus::FILE_NOT_FOUND;
+            last_read_status = status;
             return concore_base::parselist_double(initstr);
         }
         std::vector<double> inval = it->second->recv_with_retry();
-        if (inval.empty())
+        if (inval.empty()) {
+            status = ReadStatus::TIMEOUT;
             inval = concore_base::parselist_double(initstr);
-        if (inval.empty()) return inval;
+        }
+        if (inval.empty()) {
+            if (status == ReadStatus::SUCCESS)
+                status = ReadStatus::PARSE_ERROR;
+            last_read_status = status;
+            return inval;
+        }
+        last_read_status = status;
         simtime = simtime > inval[0] ? simtime : inval[0];
         s += port_name;
         inval.erase(inval.begin());
@@ -433,6 +487,13 @@ class Concore {
         return read_ZMQ(port_name, name, initstr);
     }
 
+    ReadResult read_result(const std::string& port_name, const std::string& name, const std::string& initstr) {
+        ReadResult result;
+        result.data = read(port_name, name, initstr);
+        result.status = last_read_status;
+        return result;
+    }
+
     void write(const std::string& port_name, const std::string& name, std::vector<double> val, int delta = 0) {
         return write_ZMQ(port_name, name, val, delta);
     }