--- a/jni/src/AtkWrapper.c
+++ b/jni/src/AtkWrapper.c
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ GThread *jaw_thread;
 
 gboolean jaw_accessibility_init (void)
 {
-  atk_bridge_adaptor_init (NULL, NULL);
+  if (atk_bridge_adaptor_init (NULL, NULL) < 0)
+    return FALSE;
   if (jaw_debug)
     printf("Atk Bridge Initialized\n");
   return TRUE;
@@ -142,6 +143,8 @@ JNICALL Java_org_GNOME_Accessibility_Atk
   jaw_initialized = jaw_accessibility_init();
   if (jaw_debug)
     printf("Jaw Initialization STATUS in loadAtkBridge: %d\n", jaw_initialized);
+  if (!jaw_initialized)
+    return;
 
   jni_main_context = g_main_context_new();
   jni_main_loop = g_main_loop_new (jni_main_context, FALSE); /*main loop NOT running*/
