diff --git a/src/platform/shared.c b/src/platform/shared.c
index 839322dc1e..65594368fe 100644
--- a/src/platform/shared.c
+++ b/src/platform/shared.c
@@ -810,6 +810,11 @@ void platform_refresh_video()
 	if (gConfigGeneral.hardware_display) {
 		if (gRenderer == NULL)
 			gRenderer = SDL_CreateRenderer(gWindow, -1, SDL_RENDERER_ACCELERATED | SDL_RENDERER_PRESENTVSYNC);
+		
+		if (gRenderer == NULL) {
+			log_fatal("SDL_CreateRenderer %s", SDL_GetError());
+			exit(-1);
+		}
 
 		if (gBufferTexture != NULL)
 			SDL_DestroyTexture(gBufferTexture);