diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.cpp b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.cpp
index 14de4c0f06..8d653907a5 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.cpp
@@ -235,7 +235,10 @@ RageDisplay_D3D::RageDisplay_D3D( VideoModeParams p )
 	 * as possible, because if we have to shut it down again we'll flash a window
 	 * briefly. */
     if(!SDL_WasInit(SDL_INIT_VIDEO))
-		SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_VIDEO);
+	{
+		if( SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_VIDEO) == -1 )
+			RageException::Throw( "SDL_INIT_VIDEO failed: %s", SDL_GetError() );
+	}
 
 	/* By default, ignore all SDL events.  We'll enable them as we need them.
 	 * We must not enable any events we don't actually want, since we won't
diff --git a/stepmania/src/arch/LowLevelWindow/LowLevelWindow_SDL.cpp b/stepmania/src/arch/LowLevelWindow/LowLevelWindow_SDL.cpp
index 32139722b7..6693f317c9 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/arch/LowLevelWindow/LowLevelWindow_SDL.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/arch/LowLevelWindow/LowLevelWindow_SDL.cpp
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ bool LowLevelWindow_SDL::TryVideoMode( RageDisplay::VideoModeParams p, bool &bNe
 		EventEnabled[i] = mySDL_EventState( (Uint8) i, SDL_QUERY );
 
 	SDL_QuitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_VIDEO);
-	SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_VIDEO);
+	if( SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_VIDEO) == -1 )
+		RageException::Throw( "SDL_INIT_VIDEO failed: %s", SDL_GetError() );
 
 	/* Put them back. */
 	for( i = 0; i < SDL_NUMEVENTS; ++i)