diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp b/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp
index d7ed3e999..e82a5bf10 100644
--- a/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp
@@ -488,7 +488,10 @@ std::unique_ptr<tools::wallet2> make_basic(const boost::program_options::variabl
   }
 
   std::unique_ptr<tools::wallet2> wallet(new tools::wallet2(nettype, kdf_rounds, unattended));
-  wallet->init(std::move(daemon_address), std::move(login), std::move(proxy), 0, *trusted_daemon, std::move(ssl_options));
+  if (!wallet->init(std::move(daemon_address), std::move(login), std::move(proxy), 0, *trusted_daemon, std::move(ssl_options)))
+  {
+    THROW_WALLET_EXCEPTION(tools::error::wallet_internal_error, tools::wallet2::tr("failed to initialize the wallet"));
+  }
   boost::filesystem::path ringdb_path = command_line::get_arg(vm, opts.shared_ringdb_dir);
   wallet->set_ring_database(ringdb_path.string());
   wallet->get_message_store().set_options(vm);