returns a 0 error code even with a die statement

I'm pretty sure die is returning a nonzero value. That's how it is designed. Here is what I mean:

~# perl -e 'die "trying"'
trying at -e line 1
~# echo $?
255
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As mentioned elsewhere the Perl script may be getting executed in such a way that the return code is obfuscated. Something like:

myscript.pl | do_something
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What does the sniglet of shell code look like that is invoking the Perl script?