diff --git a/ripngd/ripng_main.c b/ripngd/ripng_main.c
index f174610..85209a1 100644
--- a/ripngd/ripng_main.c
+++ b/ripngd/ripng_main.c
@@ -288,8 +288,11 @@
     return(0);
   
   /* Change to the daemon program. */
-  if (daemon_mode)
-    daemon (0, 0);
+  if (daemon_mode && daemon (0, 0) < 0)
+    {
+      zlog_err("RIPNGd daemon failed: %s", strerror(errno));
+      exit (1);
+    }
 
   /* Create VTY socket */
   vty_serv_sock (vty_addr, vty_port, RIPNG_VTYSH_PATH);