diff --git a/src/ta12200/ta12200.cxx b/src/ta12200/ta12200.cxx
index 136b3001..f9d3cb07 100644
--- a/src/ta12200/ta12200.cxx
+++ b/src/ta12200/ta12200.cxx
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
  */
 
 #include <iostream>
+#include <string>
+#include <stdexcept>
 
 #include "ta12200.h"
 
@@ -35,7 +37,8 @@ TA12200::TA12200(int pin)
 
   if ( !(m_aio = mraa_aio_init(pin)) )
     {
-      cerr << __FUNCTION__ << ": mraa_aio_init() failed" << endl;
+      throw std::invalid_argument(std::string(__FUNCTION__) +
+                                  ": mraa_aio_init() failed, invalid pin?");
       return;
     }
 }