diff --git a/tools/vsh.c b/tools/vsh.c
index 540c78ca8597e7eb5a2e07626af9a0188378bbae..400b94eb041c63044c277781c7966020fbbc26cb 100644
--- a/tools/vsh.c
+++ b/tools/vsh.c
@@ -2963,7 +2963,7 @@ vshReadline(vshControl *ctl, const char *prompt)
 /*
  * Initialize debug settings.
  */
-static void
+static int
 vshInitDebug(vshControl *ctl)
 {
     const char *debugEnv;
@@ -2991,6 +2991,8 @@ vshInitDebug(vshControl *ctl)
             vshOpenLogFile(ctl);
         }
     }
+
+    return 0;
 }
 
 
@@ -3013,9 +3015,9 @@ vshInit(vshControl *ctl, const vshCmdGrp *groups, const vshCmdDef *set)
 
     cmdGroups = groups;
     cmdSet = set;
-    vshInitDebug(ctl);
 
-    if (ctl->imode && vshReadlineInit(ctl) < 0)
+    if (vshInitDebug(ctl) < 0 ||
+        (ctl->imode && vshReadlineInit(ctl) < 0))
         return false;
 
     return true;
@@ -3030,7 +3032,8 @@ vshInitReload(vshControl *ctl)
         return false;
     }
 
-    vshInitDebug(ctl);
+    if (vshInitDebug(ctl) < 0)
+        return false;
 
     if (ctl->imode)
         vshReadlineDeinit(ctl);