diff --git a/src/max44000/max44000.cxx b/src/max44000/max44000.cxx
index 86365e2c..13eb43a9 100644
--- a/src/max44000/max44000.cxx
+++ b/src/max44000/max44000.cxx
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
  */
 
 #include <iostream>
+#include <string>
+#include <stdexcept>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
@@ -36,9 +38,17 @@ MAX44000::MAX44000 (int bus, int devAddr) : m_i2cMaxControlCtx(bus) {
     m_maxControlAddr = devAddr;
     m_bus = bus;
 
+    if ( !(m_i2cMaxControlCtx = mraa_i2c_init(m_bus)) ) 
+      {
+        throw std::invalid_argument(std::string(__FUNCTION__) +
+                                    ": mraa_i2c_init() failed");
+        return;
+      }
+
     mraa::Result ret = m_i2cMaxControlCtx.address(m_maxControlAddr);
     if (ret != mraa::SUCCESS) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "Messed up i2c bus\n");
+        throw std::invalid_argument(std::string(__FUNCTION__) +
+                                    ": mraa_i2c_address() failed");
     }
 
     // i2cWriteReg (MCR, 0x2C);