diff --git a/minui/graphics.cpp b/minui/graphics.cpp
index 3b38601..c1aab41 100644
--- a/minui/graphics.cpp
+++ b/minui/graphics.cpp
@@ -356,6 +356,10 @@
 
   gr_flip();
   gr_flip();
+  if (!gr_draw) {
+    printf("gr_init: gr_draw becomes nullptr after gr_flip\n");
+    return -1;
+  }
 
   gr_rotate(DEFAULT_ROTATION);
 
diff --git a/minui/graphics_drm.cpp b/minui/graphics_drm.cpp
index e7d4b38..4c98507 100644
--- a/minui/graphics_drm.cpp
+++ b/minui/graphics_drm.cpp
@@ -45,15 +45,17 @@
   }
 }
 
-void MinuiBackendDrm::DrmEnableCrtc(int drm_fd, drmModeCrtc* crtc, GRSurfaceDrm* surface) {
-  int32_t ret = drmModeSetCrtc(drm_fd, crtc->crtc_id, surface->fb_id, 0, 0,  // x,y
-                               &main_monitor_connector->connector_id,
-                               1,  // connector_count
-                               &main_monitor_crtc->mode);
+int MinuiBackendDrm::DrmEnableCrtc(int drm_fd, drmModeCrtc* crtc, GRSurfaceDrm* surface) {
+  int ret = drmModeSetCrtc(drm_fd, crtc->crtc_id, surface->fb_id, 0, 0,  // x,y
+                           &main_monitor_connector->connector_id,
+                           1,  // connector_count
+                           &main_monitor_crtc->mode);
 
   if (ret) {
     printf("drmModeSetCrtc failed ret=%d\n", ret);
   }
+
+  return ret;
 }
 
 void MinuiBackendDrm::Blank(bool blank) {
@@ -368,7 +370,10 @@
 
   current_buffer = 0;
 
-  DrmEnableCrtc(drm_fd, main_monitor_crtc, GRSurfaceDrms[1]);
+  // We will likely encounter errors in the backend functions (i.e. Flip) if EnableCrtc fails.
+  if (DrmEnableCrtc(drm_fd, main_monitor_crtc, GRSurfaceDrms[1]) != 0) {
+    return nullptr;
+  }
 
   return GRSurfaceDrms[0];
 }
diff --git a/minui/graphics_drm.h b/minui/graphics_drm.h
index de96212..756625b 100644
--- a/minui/graphics_drm.h
+++ b/minui/graphics_drm.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 
  private:
   void DrmDisableCrtc(int drm_fd, drmModeCrtc* crtc);
-  void DrmEnableCrtc(int drm_fd, drmModeCrtc* crtc, GRSurfaceDrm* surface);
+  int DrmEnableCrtc(int drm_fd, drmModeCrtc* crtc, GRSurfaceDrm* surface);
   GRSurfaceDrm* DrmCreateSurface(int width, int height);
   void DrmDestroySurface(GRSurfaceDrm* surface);
   void DisableNonMainCrtcs(int fd, drmModeRes* resources, drmModeCrtc* main_crtc);