diff --git a/src/x11/mod.rs b/src/x11/mod.rs
index 9103ea21..4088f29f 100644
--- a/src/x11/mod.rs
+++ b/src/x11/mod.rs
@@ -144,7 +144,13 @@ impl Window {
             // creating the dummy context
             let dummy_context =
                 ffi::glXCreateContext(display, &visual_infos, ptr::null(), 1);
-            ffi::glXMakeCurrent(display, window, dummy_context);
+            if dummy_context.is_null() {
+                return Err(format!("glXCreateContext failed"));
+            }
+
+            if ffi::glXMakeCurrent(display, window, dummy_context) == 0 {
+                return Err(format!("glXMakeCurrent with dummy context failed"));
+            }
 
             // getting the pointer
             let fn_ptr = {