diff --git a/src/neutrino.cpp b/src/neutrino.cpp
index 2335451f7..e2a782688 100644
--- a/src/neutrino.cpp
+++ b/src/neutrino.cpp
@@ -1840,7 +1840,7 @@ fprintf(stderr, "[neutrino start] %d  -> %5ld ms\n", __LINE__, time_monotonic_ms
 	ZapStart_arg.volume = g_settings.current_volume;
 
 	/* create decoders, read channels */
-	CZapit::getInstance()->Start(&ZapStart_arg);
+	bool zapit_init = CZapit::getInstance()->Start(&ZapStart_arg);
 fprintf(stderr, "[neutrino start] %d  -> %5ld ms\n", __LINE__, time_monotonic_ms() - starttime);
 
 	// init audio settings
@@ -1862,6 +1862,12 @@ fprintf(stderr, "[neutrino start] %d  -> %5ld ms\n", __LINE__, time_monotonic_ms
 
 	g_RCInput = new CRCInput();
 
+	/* later on, we'll crash anyway, so tell about it. */
+	if (! zapit_init)
+		ShowMsgUTF(LOCALE_MESSAGEBOX_INFO,
+				"Zapit initialization failed.\nThis is a fatal error, sorry.",
+				CMessageBox::mbrBack, CMessageBox::mbBack);
+
 	InitZapitClient();
 	g_Zapit->setStandby(false);
 
diff --git a/src/zapit/src/zapit.cpp b/src/zapit/src/zapit.cpp
index ea4479ec1..d89112ba0 100644
--- a/src/zapit/src/zapit.cpp
+++ b/src/zapit/src/zapit.cpp
@@ -2140,6 +2140,10 @@ bool CZapit::Start(Z_start_arg *ZapStart_arg)
 
 	CFEManager::getInstance()->Init();
 	live_fe = CFEManager::getInstance()->getFE(0);
+
+	if (live_fe == NULL) /* no frontend found? */
+		return false;
+
 	/* load configuration or set defaults if no configuration file exists */
 	video_mode = ZapStart_arg->video_mode;
 	current_volume = ZapStart_arg->volume;