diff --git a/lib/net/interface.c b/lib/net/interface.c
index 17218bbb3..db77f0e6e 100644
--- a/lib/net/interface.c
+++ b/lib/net/interface.c
@@ -345,6 +345,10 @@ static int netlink_addr_msg(uint32_t ifc_idx, uint32_t ip_address, uint32_t crea
 		return -1;
 
 	fd = socket(AF_NETLINK, SOCK_RAW, NETLINK_ROUTE);
+	if (fd < 0) {
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("socket failed!\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
 
 	/* setup local address & bind using this address. */
 	bzero(&la, sizeof(la));