diff --git a/wayland.c b/wayland.c
index f06668ac..0baafa28 100644
--- a/wayland.c
+++ b/wayland.c
@@ -780,9 +780,10 @@ wayl_init(const struct config *conf, struct fdm *fdm)
     if (wayl->primary_selection_device_manager == NULL)
         LOG_WARN("no primary selection available");
 
-    if (conf->presentation_timings && wayl->presentation == NULL)
-        LOG_WARN("presentation time interface not implemented by compositor; "
-                 "timings will not be available");
+    if (conf->presentation_timings && wayl->presentation == NULL) {
+        LOG_ERR("presentation time interface not implemented by compositor");
+        goto out;
+    }
 
     tll_foreach(wayl->monitors, it) {
         LOG_INFO(