diff --git a/src/itg3200/itg3200.cxx b/src/itg3200/itg3200.cxx
index c0258124..90ea9d91 100644
--- a/src/itg3200/itg3200.cxx
+++ b/src/itg3200/itg3200.cxx
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
  */
 
 #include <iostream>
+#include <string>
+#include <stdexcept>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include "math.h"
 #include "itg3200.h"
@@ -64,7 +66,14 @@ using namespace upm;
 
 Itg3200::Itg3200(int bus) : m_i2c(bus)
 {
-    //reset chip
+    //init bus and reset chip
+    if ( !(m_i2c = mraa_i2c_init(bus)) ) 
+      {
+        throw std::invalid_argument(std::string(__FUNCTION__) +
+                                    ": mraa_i2c_init() failed");
+        return;
+      }
+
     m_i2c.address(ITG3200_I2C_ADDR);
     m_buffer[0] = ITG3200_PWR_MGM;
     m_buffer[1] = ITG3200_RESET;