diff --git a/src/ftdiJtagBitbang.cpp b/src/ftdiJtagBitbang.cpp
index 1b70124..58f9031 100644
--- a/src/ftdiJtagBitbang.cpp
+++ b/src/ftdiJtagBitbang.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ FtdiJtagBitBang::FtdiJtagBitBang(const FTDIpp_MPSSE::mpsse_bit_config &cable,
 
 	setClkFreq(clkHZ);
 
-	init(1, _tck_pin | _tms_pin | _tdi_pin, BITMODE_BITBANG);
+	if (init(1, _tck_pin | _tms_pin | _tdi_pin, BITMODE_BITBANG) != 0)
+		throw std::runtime_error("low level FTDI init failed");
 	setBitmode(BITMODE_BITBANG);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ftdiJtagMPSSE.cpp b/src/ftdiJtagMPSSE.cpp
index e9a9c9c..61d7a0d 100644
--- a/src/ftdiJtagMPSSE.cpp
+++ b/src/ftdiJtagMPSSE.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <map>
 #include <vector>
+#include <stdexcept>
 #include <string>
 
 #include "ftdiJtagMPSSE.hpp"
@@ -75,7 +76,8 @@ void FtdiJtagMPSSE::init_internal(const FTDIpp_MPSSE::mpsse_bit_config &cable)
 	display("%x\n", cable.bit_high_val);
 	display("%x\n", cable.bit_high_dir);
 
-	init(5, 0xfb, BITMODE_MPSSE);
+	if (init(5, 0xfb, BITMODE_MPSSE) != 0)
+		throw std::runtime_error("low level FTDI init failed");
 	config_edge();
 }