diff --git a/Doc/library/fcntl.rst b/Doc/library/fcntl.rst
index a517d6e275d..b798f22d7fb 100644
--- a/Doc/library/fcntl.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/fcntl.rst
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ The module defines the following functions:
    buffer 1024 bytes long which is then passed to :func:`ioctl` and copied back
    into the supplied buffer.
 
+   If the :c:func:`ioctl` fails, an :exc:`IOError` exception is raised.
+
    An example::
 
       >>> import array, fcntl, struct, termios, os
@@ -104,6 +106,8 @@ The module defines the following functions:
    :manpage:`flock(2)` for details.  (On some systems, this function is emulated
    using :c:func:`fcntl`.)
 
+   If the :c:func:`flock` fails, an :exc:`IOError` exception is raised.
+
 
 .. function:: lockf(fd, operation, [length, [start, [whence]]])