An error propagation system and method uses a central control point at each node of a multinodal computer system to control error message distribution. The central point at each node ANDs all of the error messages from each of the functional units at that node and then distributes an error signal to all of the local functional units and to a next node via the SCI linkage. A single bit on the SCI protocol alerts the next node that an error has occurred on another node. The central point at that node then distributes the error signal to all of the local functional units at that node. The error signal is then passed along to a next node for a repeat of the process. Clock stoppage, which would normally occur when an error is detected, is inhibited long enough to allow the error signal to be passed along to a next node. The clock stoppage inhibiting circuit is itself inhibited if the error information could be lost thereby allowing immediate clock stoppage without regard to propagating the error to the next node.