diff --git a/src/engine.cpp b/src/engine.cpp
index db46ccd5..844a0ba5 100644
--- a/src/engine.cpp
+++ b/src/engine.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ using gui::GUI;
 
 Engine::Engine(EngineSettings& settings, EnginePaths* paths, Content* content) 
 	   : settings(settings), content(content), paths(paths) {    
-	Window::initialize(settings.display);
+	if (Window::initialize(settings.display)){
+		throw initialize_error("could not initialize window");
+	}
 	Shader::preprocessor->setLibFolder(paths->getResources()/path("shaders/lib"));
 
 	assets = new Assets();