diff --git a/src/pk-backend-status.c b/src/pk-backend-status.c
index d2e9de9..8c845c7 100644
--- a/src/pk-backend-status.c
+++ b/src/pk-backend-status.c
@@ -122,7 +122,11 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	filter_list = pk_client_get_filters (client);
 
 	/* general stuff */
-	pk_client_get_backend_detail (client, &name, &author);
+	if(!pk_client_get_backend_detail (client, &name, &author))
+	{
+		pk_warning (_("Exiting on failure\n"));
+		return 1;
+	}
 	widget = glade_xml_get_widget (glade_xml, "label_name");
 	gtk_label_set_label (GTK_LABEL (widget), name);
 	widget = glade_xml_get_widget (glade_xml, "label_author");