diff --git a/rpcs3/main.cpp b/rpcs3/main.cpp
index 5238d79367..aa79213b8c 100644
--- a/rpcs3/main.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/main.cpp
@@ -490,8 +490,11 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 		report_fatal_error("Not enough memory for RPCS3 process.");
 	}
 
-	WSADATA wsa_data;
-	WSAStartup(MAKEWORD(2, 2), &wsa_data);
+	WSADATA wsa_data{};
+	if (const int res = WSAStartup(MAKEWORD(2, 2), &wsa_data); res != 0)
+	{
+		report_fatal_error(fmt::format("WSAStartup failed (error=%s)", fmt::win_error_to_string(res, nullptr)));
+	}
 #endif
 
 	ensure(thread_ctrl::is_main(), "Not main thread");