diff --git a/python/libvirt-override.c b/python/libvirt-override.c
index b97445b5ebd1a2eb194458f698fd58feee45fd30..c9721f7331cbe90333596d2848b1ecb3e69554c0 100644
--- a/python/libvirt-override.c
+++ b/python/libvirt-override.c
@@ -3543,7 +3543,8 @@ initcygvirtmod
     if (initialized != 0)
         return;
 
-    virInitialize();
+    if (virInitialize() < 0)
+        return;
 
     /* initialize the python extension module */
     Py_InitModule((char *)