diff --git a/examples/domain-events/events-c/event-test.c b/examples/domain-events/events-c/event-test.c
index ede9796df4c0d4bbadf78b4f5f6ecd9a3e41ad2c..0f7be55600c1ad6aaadb3d4714fca9dacee1c111 100644
--- a/examples/domain-events/events-c/event-test.c
+++ b/examples/domain-events/events-c/event-test.c
@@ -468,6 +468,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
         return -1;
     }
 
+    if (virInitialize() < 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to initialize libvirt");
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     virEventRegisterDefaultImpl();
 
     virConnectPtr dconn = NULL;