diff --git a/timer.c b/timer.c
index 012f3d4..c00788e 100644
--- a/timer.c
+++ b/timer.c
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ int uev_timer_set(uev_t *w, int timeout, int period)
 
 		msec2tspec(timeout, &time.it_value);
 		msec2tspec(period, &time.it_interval);
-		timerfd_settime(w->fd, 0, &time, NULL);
+		if (timerfd_settime(w->fd, 0, &time, NULL) < 0)
+			return 1;
 	}
 
 	return uev_watcher_start(w);