diff --git a/powerdebug.c b/powerdebug.c
index 8244df2..215b0fe 100644
--- a/powerdebug.c
+++ b/powerdebug.c
@@ -261,8 +261,9 @@
 		struct timeval tval;
 		fd_set readfds;
 
-		if (firsttime[0])
-			display_init();
+		if (firsttime[0] && display_init())
+			return -1;
+
 		create_windows(options->selectedwindow);
 		show_header(options->selectedwindow);
 
@@ -395,6 +396,11 @@
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	if (display_init()) {
+		printf("failed to initialize display\n");
+		return 1;
+	}
+
 	if (mainloop(options, regulators_info, numregulators))
 		return 1;