diff --git a/wolfssl/__init__.py b/wolfssl/__init__.py
index 8d79071..f477408 100644
--- a/wolfssl/__init__.py
+++ b/wolfssl/__init__.py
@@ -152,7 +152,9 @@ class SSLContext(object):
     """
 
     def __init__(self, protocol, server_side=None):
-        _lib.wolfSSL_Init()
+        if _lib.wolfSSL_Init() != _SSL_SUCCESS:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                "wolfSSL library initialization failed")
         method = _WolfSSLMethod(protocol, server_side)
 
         self.protocol = protocol
diff --git a/wolfssl/_build_ffi.py b/wolfssl/_build_ffi.py
index dbc624b..7a34dcc 100644
--- a/wolfssl/_build_ffi.py
+++ b/wolfssl/_build_ffi.py
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ cdef += """
     /*
      * SSL/TLS Session functions
      */
-    void wolfSSL_Init();
+    int wolfSSL_Init(void);
     WOLFSSL* wolfSSL_new(WOLFSSL_CTX*);
     void  wolfSSL_free(WOLFSSL*);