diff --git a/bin/if.c b/bin/if.c
index ac2ee06..f313922 100644
--- a/bin/if.c
+++ b/bin/if.c
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ error_invalid:
 static patty_ax25_if *create_aprs_is(struct context *ctx,
                                      int argc,
                                      char **argv) {
-    enum mode_aprs_is mode = MODE_APRS_IS_IFOPTS;
+    patty_ax25_if *iface;
 
     patty_ax25_aprs_is_info info = {
         .user    = "N0CALL",
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ static patty_ax25_if *create_aprs_is(struct context *ctx,
         .filter  = "m/25"
     };
 
+    enum mode_aprs_is mode = MODE_APRS_IS_IFOPTS;
+
     int i;
 
     if (argc == 0) {
@@ -213,11 +215,19 @@ static patty_ax25_if *create_aprs_is(struct context *ctx,
         }
     }
 
-    return patty_ax25_if_new( ctx->name,
-                             &ctx->addr,
-                             patty_ax25_aprs_is_driver(),
-                             &info);
+    if ((iface = patty_ax25_if_new( ctx->name,
+                                   &ctx->addr,
+                                   patty_ax25_aprs_is_driver(),
+                                   &info)) == NULL) {
+        patty_error_fmt(ctx->err, "Unable to connect to APRS-IS service %s:%s: %s",
+            info.host, info.port, strerror(errno));
 
+        goto error_if_new;
+    }
+
+    return iface;
+
+error_if_new:
 error_invalid:
     return NULL;
 }