diff --git a/examples/spdycli.c b/examples/spdycli.c
index d2815ae6..e789aaa4 100644
--- a/examples/spdycli.c
+++ b/examples/spdycli.c
@@ -591,6 +591,9 @@ static void fetch_uri(const struct URI *uri)
 
   /* Establish connection and setup SSL */
   fd = connect_to(req.host, req.port);
+  if(fd == -1) {
+    die("Could not open file descriptor");
+  }
   ssl_ctx = SSL_CTX_new(SSLv23_client_method());
   if(ssl_ctx == NULL) {
     dief("SSL_CTX_new", ERR_error_string(ERR_get_error(), NULL));