diff --git a/src/modules/module-netjack2-driver.c b/src/modules/module-netjack2-driver.c
index 1a2281db2..87eb1da22 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-netjack2-driver.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-netjack2-driver.c
@@ -923,7 +923,10 @@ static int handle_follower_setup(struct impl *impl, struct nj2_session_params *p
 	peer->send_volume = &impl->sink.volume;
 	peer->recv_volume = &impl->source.volume;
 	peer->quantum_limit = impl->quantum_limit;
-	netjack2_init(peer);
+	if ((res = netjack2_init(peer)) < 0) {
+		pw_log_error("can't init peer: %s", spa_strerror(res));
+		return res;
+	}
 
 	int bufsize = SPA_MIN((size_t)NETWORK_MAX_LATENCY * (peer->params.mtu +
 		(size_t)peer->params.period_size * sizeof(float) *