diff --git a/src/gui/gui.cpp b/src/gui/gui.cpp
index 106685af7..bb806dcd4 100644
--- a/src/gui/gui.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/gui.cpp
@@ -6021,7 +6021,14 @@ bool FurnaceGUI::init() {
 #endif
 
   // initialize SDL
-  SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO|SDL_INIT_HAPTIC);
+  if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO)!=0) {
+    logE("could not initialize video! %s",SDL_GetError());
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_HAPTIC)!=0) {
+    logW("could not initialize haptic! %s",SDL_GetError());
+  }
 
   const char* videoBackend=SDL_GetCurrentVideoDriver();
   if (videoBackend!=NULL) {