diff --git a/src/poc/reader.cpp b/src/poc/reader.cpp
index 0d55c6bf4..df240b2d7 100644
--- a/src/poc/reader.cpp
+++ b/src/poc/reader.cpp
@@ -13,12 +13,15 @@ auto main() -> int {
   ncpp::NotCurses nc;
   int dimy, dimx;
   nc.get_term_dim(&dimy, &dimx);
-  ncreader_options opts;
+  ncreader_options opts{};
   opts.physrows = dimy / 2;
   opts.physcols = dimx / 2;
   opts.egc = strdup("░");
   //ncpp::Reader nr(nc, 0, 0, &opts);
   auto nr = ncreader_create(*nc, 2, 2, &opts);
+  if(nr == nullptr){
+    return EXIT_FAILURE;
+  }
   char32_t id;
   ncinput ni;
   nc.render();