diff --git a/src/chess.c b/src/chess.c
index 2d53520..5b58d8f 100644
--- a/src/chess.c
+++ b/src/chess.c
@@ -159,14 +159,16 @@ bool validate_move(board_t board, move_t move) {
 
 /** TODO: capturing and promotions */
 bool perform_move(board_t *board, player_e player, move_t move) {
-    if (validate_move(*board, move) == true) {
+    bool move_valid = validate_move(*board, move);
+    if (move_valid == true) {
         *board[move.to.y][move.to.x] = move.piece; // move piece to wanted place
         *board[move.from.y][move.from.x] = NONE; // erase the remnants
     }
+    return move_valid;
 }
 
 end_condition_e check_edge_cases(board_t board) {
-    
+    return CHECKMATE;
 }
 
 void announce_results(end_condition_e end_condition, player_e player) {
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 9d0d8ef..2e5144b 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // a chess implementation in pure C :)
 
-#include "util.h"
 #include "chess.h"
+#include <stdlib.h>
 
 /**
  * steps to victory:
diff --git a/src/util.h b/src/util.h
index 5f057b2..8eeb693 100644
--- a/src/util.h
+++ b/src/util.h
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@
 
 // misc. defines and methods
 
-#define EXIT_SUCCESS 0
-#define EXIT_FAILURE 1
-
 // for input handling consistency
 void clear_stdin();