diff --git a/dylib/src/test.c b/dylib/src/test.c
index ea277392..39614781 100644
--- a/dylib/src/test.c
+++ b/dylib/src/test.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ const char* pkpy_module__init__(pkpy_vm* vm, const char* version){
     pkpy_setattr(vm, pkpy_name("hello"));
     if(pkpy_check_error(vm)){
         pkpy_clear_error(vm, NULL);
-        exit(1);
+        return NULL;
     }
     return "test";
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/pocketpy.cpp b/src/pocketpy.cpp
index 4a180cf3..fb4f066a 100644
--- a/src/pocketpy.cpp
+++ b/src/pocketpy.cpp
@@ -174,6 +174,9 @@ void init_builtins(VM* _vm) {
                     vm->_error("ImportError", "cannot load dynamic library: " + name.escape());
                 }
                 const char* name = entry(vm, PK_VERSION);
+                if(name == nullptr){
+                    vm->_error("ImportError", "module initialization failed: " + Str(name).escape());
+                }
                 return vm->_modules[name];
             }
         }