diff --git a/linker/linker.cpp b/linker/linker.cpp
index babefeb3c..9b67fc2eb 100644
--- a/linker/linker.cpp
+++ b/linker/linker.cpp
@@ -2717,7 +2717,10 @@ static ElfW(Addr) __linker_init_post_relocation(KernelArgumentBlock& args, ElfW(
 
   somain = si;
 
-  si->prelink_image();
+  if (!si->prelink_image()) {
+    __libc_format_fd(2, "CANNOT LINK EXECUTABLE: %s\n", linker_get_error_buffer());
+    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+  }
 
   // add somain to global group
   si->set_dt_flags_1(si->get_dt_flags_1() | DF_1_GLOBAL);