diff --git a/ffplay.c b/ffplay.c
index 8c9f6b1f9d..cf0640ee9e 100644
--- a/ffplay.c
+++ b/ffplay.c
@@ -3168,7 +3168,10 @@ static VideoState *stream_open(const char *filename, AVInputFormat *iformat)
         packet_queue_init(&is->subtitleq) < 0)
         goto fail;
 
-    is->continue_read_thread = SDL_CreateCond();
+    if (!(is->continue_read_thread = SDL_CreateCond())) {
+        av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_FATAL, "SDL_CreateCond(): %s\n", SDL_GetError());
+        goto fail;
+    }
 
     init_clock(&is->vidclk, &is->videoq.serial);
     init_clock(&is->audclk, &is->audioq.serial);