diff --git a/examples/assimp_loading/main.cpp b/examples/assimp_loading/main.cpp
index 8a4057a..22bd60b 100644
--- a/examples/assimp_loading/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/assimp_loading/main.cpp
@@ -56,8 +56,13 @@ int
 main()
 {
 	render_state* rs = renInit("assimp loading");
-	meInitAssimp();
 
+	if (rs == nullptr) {
+		LOG(Error) << "Error Initialzing renderer\n";
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	meInitAssimp();
 	// TODO: this needs to be more convenient
 	rs->render_groups = renAllocateGroup(1, *rs->default_shader);
 	rs->render_group_count = 1;
diff --git a/examples/hello_world/main.cpp b/examples/hello_world/main.cpp
index 5056919..98a9049 100644
--- a/examples/hello_world/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/hello_world/main.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ int
 main()
 {
 	render_state* rs = renInit();
+
+	if (rs == nullptr)
+		return 1;
+
 	const uint TARGET_FPS = 60;
 	const uint FRAME_DELAY = 1000 / TARGET_FPS;
 	uint frameStart, frameTime;