diff --git a/libs/openengine/ogre/renderer.cpp b/libs/openengine/ogre/renderer.cpp
index eb33d5876c..2c81b1b9dd 100644
--- a/libs/openengine/ogre/renderer.cpp
+++ b/libs/openengine/ogre/renderer.cpp
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ void OgreRenderer::createWindow(const std::string &title, const WindowSettings&
       SDL_WINDOW_SHOWN
         | (settings.fullscreen ? SDL_WINDOW_FULLSCREEN : 0) | SDL_WINDOW_RESIZABLE
     );
+    if (mSDLWindow == 0)
+        throw std::runtime_error("Failed to create window: " + std::string(SDL_GetError()));
 
     SFO::SDLWindowHelper helper(mSDLWindow, settings.window_x, settings.window_y, title, settings.fullscreen, params);
     if (settings.icon != "")