diff --git a/dmenu.c b/dmenu.c
index c2425e2..2c64545 100644
--- a/dmenu.c
+++ b/dmenu.c
@@ -698,8 +698,9 @@ setup(void)
 	if ((xim = XOpenIM(dpy, NULL, NULL, NULL)) == NULL)
 		die("XOpenIM failed: could not open input device");
 
-	xic = XCreateIC(xim, XNInputStyle, XIMPreeditNothing | XIMStatusNothing,
-	                XNClientWindow, win, XNFocusWindow, win, NULL);
+	if ((xic = XCreateIC(xim, XNInputStyle, XIMPreeditNothing | XIMStatusNothing,
+	                XNClientWindow, win, XNFocusWindow, win, NULL)) == NULL)
+		die("XCreateIC failed: could not obtain input context");
 
 	XMapRaised(dpy, win);
 	if (embed) {