diff --git a/src/util/virevent.c b/src/util/virevent.c
index 3477d63554..f6eb806faf 100644
--- a/src/util/virevent.c
+++ b/src/util/virevent.c
@@ -305,7 +305,8 @@ int virEventRegisterDefaultImpl(void)
 {
     VIR_DEBUG("registering default event implementation");
 
-    virInitialize();
+    if (virInitialize() < 0)
+        return -1;
 
     virResetLastError();