diff --git a/src/gui/gui.cpp b/src/gui/gui.cpp
index 4f5e54ff..0f0a943f 100644
--- a/src/gui/gui.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/gui.cpp
@@ -6021,7 +6021,18 @@ bool FurnaceGUI::init() {
 #endif
 
   // initialize SDL
-  SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO|SDL_INIT_HAPTIC);
+  logD("Initializing video...");
+  if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO)!=0) {
+    logE("Could not initialize video! %s",SDL_GetError());
+    return false;
+  }
+
+#ifdef IS_MOBILE
+  logD("Initializing haptic...");
+  if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_HAPTIC)!=0) {
+    logW("Could not initialize haptic! %s",SDL_GetError());
+  }
+#endif
 
   const char* videoBackend=SDL_GetCurrentVideoDriver();
   if (videoBackend!=NULL) {