diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/openh264/gstopenh264dec.cpp b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/openh264/gstopenh264dec.cpp
index 6d3464628f..77f2b8fe34 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/openh264/gstopenh264dec.cpp
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/openh264/gstopenh264dec.cpp
@@ -159,7 +159,12 @@ gst_openh264dec_start (GstVideoDecoder * decoder)
     WelsDestroyDecoder (openh264dec->decoder);
     openh264dec->decoder = NULL;
   }
-  WelsCreateDecoder (&(openh264dec->decoder));
+
+  if (WelsCreateDecoder (&(openh264dec->decoder)) != 0) {
+    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (openh264dec, LIBRARY, INIT, (NULL),
+        ("Failed to create OpenH264 decoder."));
+    return FALSE;
+  }
 
 #ifndef GST_DISABLE_GST_DEBUG
   {
diff --git a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/openh264/gstopenh264enc.cpp b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/openh264/gstopenh264enc.cpp
index 00ad6b1d65..6b54b1584f 100644
--- a/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/openh264/gstopenh264enc.cpp
+++ b/subprojects/gst-plugins-bad/ext/openh264/gstopenh264enc.cpp
@@ -759,7 +759,13 @@ gst_openh264enc_set_format (GstVideoEncoder * encoder,
     WelsDestroySVCEncoder (openh264enc->encoder);
     openh264enc->encoder = NULL;
   }
-  WelsCreateSVCEncoder (&openh264enc->encoder);
+
+  if (WelsCreateSVCEncoder (&openh264enc->encoder) != 0) {
+    GST_ELEMENT_ERROR (openh264enc, LIBRARY, INIT, (NULL),
+        ("Failed to create OpenH264 encoder."));
+    return FALSE;
+  }
+
   unsigned int uiTraceLevel = WELS_LOG_ERROR;
   openh264enc->encoder->SetOption (ENCODER_OPTION_TRACE_LEVEL, &uiTraceLevel);