diff --git a/src/gpio/gpio.c b/src/gpio/gpio.c
index d202aac..4231d28 100644
--- a/src/gpio/gpio.c
+++ b/src/gpio/gpio.c
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ mraa_gpio_init(int pin)
     }
 
     mraa_gpio_context r = mraa_gpio_init_raw(plat->pins[pin].gpio.pinmap);
+    if (r == NULL) {
+        syslog(LOG_CRIT, "gpio: mraa_setup_gpio(%d) returned error %d", pin, r);
+        return NULL;
+    }
     r->phy_pin = pin;
 
     if (advance_func->gpio_init_post != NULL) {