diff --git a/autotests/integration/CMakeLists.txt b/autotests/integration/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/autotests/integration/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/autotests/integration/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 integrationTest(NAME testDontCrashNoBorder SRCS dont_crash_no_border.cpp)
 integrationTest(NAME testXClipboardSync SRCS xclipboardsync_test.cpp)
 integrationTest(NAME testSceneQPainter SRCS scene_qpainter_test.cpp)
+integrationTest(NAME testNoXdgRuntimeDir SRCS no_xdg_runtime_dir_test.cpp)
 
 if (XCB_ICCCM_FOUND)
     integrationTest(NAME testMoveResize SRCS move_resize_window_test.cpp LIBS XCB::ICCCM)
diff --git a/autotests/integration/debug_console_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/debug_console_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/debug_console_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/debug_console_test.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/autotests/integration/decoration_input_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/decoration_input_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/decoration_input_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/decoration_input_test.cpp
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     // change some options
     KSharedConfig::Ptr config = KSharedConfig::openConfig(QString(), KConfig::SimpleConfig);
diff --git a/autotests/integration/dont_crash_aurorae_destroy_deco.cpp b/autotests/integration/dont_crash_aurorae_destroy_deco.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/dont_crash_aurorae_destroy_deco.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/dont_crash_aurorae_destroy_deco.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     KSharedConfig::Ptr config = KSharedConfig::openConfig(QString(), KConfig::SimpleConfig);
     config->group("org.kde.kdecoration2").writeEntry("library", "org.kde.kwin.aurorae");
diff --git a/autotests/integration/dont_crash_cancel_animation.cpp b/autotests/integration/dont_crash_cancel_animation.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/dont_crash_cancel_animation.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/dont_crash_cancel_animation.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
     qRegisterMetaType<KWin::ShellClient*>();
     qRegisterMetaType<KWin::AbstractClient*>();
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(Compositor::self());
     QSignalSpy compositorToggledSpy(Compositor::self(), &Compositor::compositingToggled);
diff --git a/autotests/integration/dont_crash_empty_deco.cpp b/autotests/integration/dont_crash_empty_deco.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/dont_crash_empty_deco.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/dont_crash_empty_deco.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     // this test needs to enforce OpenGL compositing to get into the crashy condition
     qputenv("KWIN_COMPOSE", QByteArrayLiteral("O2"));
diff --git a/autotests/integration/dont_crash_glxgears.cpp b/autotests/integration/dont_crash_glxgears.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/dont_crash_glxgears.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/dont_crash_glxgears.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
     QSignalSpy workspaceCreatedSpy(kwinApp(), &Application::workspaceCreated);
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
 }
diff --git a/autotests/integration/dont_crash_no_border.cpp b/autotests/integration/dont_crash_no_border.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/dont_crash_no_border.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/dont_crash_no_border.cpp
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     KSharedConfig::Ptr config = KSharedConfig::openConfig(QString(), KConfig::SimpleConfig);
     config->group("org.kde.kdecoration2").writeEntry("NoPlugin", true);
diff --git a/autotests/integration/input_stacking_order.cpp b/autotests/integration/input_stacking_order.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/input_stacking_order.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/input_stacking_order.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/autotests/integration/internal_window.cpp b/autotests/integration/internal_window.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/internal_window.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/internal_window.cpp
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/autotests/integration/lockscreen.cpp b/autotests/integration/lockscreen.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/lockscreen.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/lockscreen.cpp
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/autotests/integration/maximize_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/maximize_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/maximize_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/maximize_test.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/autotests/integration/move_resize_window_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/move_resize_window_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/move_resize_window_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/move_resize_window_test.cpp
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
     QSignalSpy workspaceCreatedSpy(kwinApp(), &Application::workspaceCreated);
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
     QCOMPARE(screens()->count(), 1);
diff --git a/autotests/integration/no_xdg_runtime_dir_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/no_xdg_runtime_dir_test.cpp
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/autotests/integration/no_xdg_runtime_dir_test.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/********************************************************************
+KWin - the KDE window manager
+This file is part of the KDE project.
+
+Copyright (C) 2016 Martin Gräßlin <mgraesslin@kde.org>
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*********************************************************************/
+#include "kwin_wayland_test.h"
+#include "wayland_server.h"
+
+using namespace KWin;
+
+static const QString s_socketName = QStringLiteral("wayland_test_kwin_no_xdg_runtime_dir-0");
+
+class NoXdgRuntimeDirTest : public QObject
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+private Q_SLOTS:
+    void initTestCase();
+    void testInitFails();
+};
+
+void NoXdgRuntimeDirTest::initTestCase()
+{
+    qunsetenv("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR");
+}
+
+void NoXdgRuntimeDirTest::testInitFails()
+{
+    // this test verifies that without an XDG_RUNTIME_DIR the WaylandServer fials to init
+    QVERIFY(!waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
+}
+
+WAYLANDTEST_MAIN(NoXdgRuntimeDirTest)
+#include "no_xdg_runtime_dir_test.moc"
diff --git a/autotests/integration/plasma_surface_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/plasma_surface_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/plasma_surface_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/plasma_surface_test.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
     QSignalSpy workspaceCreatedSpy(kwinApp(), &Application::workspaceCreated);
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
 }
diff --git a/autotests/integration/plasmawindow_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/plasmawindow_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/plasmawindow_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/plasmawindow_test.cpp
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/autotests/integration/platformcursor.cpp b/autotests/integration/platformcursor.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/platformcursor.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/platformcursor.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
     QSignalSpy workspaceCreatedSpy(kwinApp(), &Application::workspaceCreated);
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
 }
diff --git a/autotests/integration/pointer_input.cpp b/autotests/integration/pointer_input.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/pointer_input.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/pointer_input.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->setConfig(KSharedConfig::openConfig(QString(), KConfig::SimpleConfig));
 
diff --git a/autotests/integration/quick_tiling_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/quick_tiling_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/quick_tiling_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/quick_tiling_test.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     // set custom config which disables the Outline
     KSharedConfig::Ptr config = KSharedConfig::openConfig(QString(), KConfig::SimpleConfig);
diff --git a/autotests/integration/scene_qpainter_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/scene_qpainter_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/scene_qpainter_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/scene_qpainter_test.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
     QSignalSpy workspaceCreatedSpy(kwinApp(), &Application::workspaceCreated);
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     // disable all effects - we don't want to have it interact with the rendering
     auto config = KSharedConfig::openConfig(QString(), KConfig::SimpleConfig);
diff --git a/autotests/integration/shade_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/shade_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/shade_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/shade_test.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/autotests/integration/shell_client_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/shell_client_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/shell_client_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/shell_client_test.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/autotests/integration/start_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/start_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/start_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/start_test.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
     QSignalSpy workspaceCreatedSpy(kwinApp(), &Application::workspaceCreated);
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
 }
diff --git a/autotests/integration/struts_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/struts_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/struts_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/struts_test.cpp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/autotests/integration/touch_input_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/touch_input_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/touch_input_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/touch_input_test.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/autotests/integration/transient_no_input_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/transient_no_input_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/transient_no_input_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/transient_no_input_test.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
     QSignalSpy workspaceCreatedSpy(kwinApp(), &Application::workspaceCreated);
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
 }
diff --git a/autotests/integration/transient_placement.cpp b/autotests/integration/transient_placement.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/transient_placement.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/transient_placement.cpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/autotests/integration/xclipboardsync_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/xclipboardsync_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/xclipboardsync_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/xclipboardsync_test.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.isValid());
     kwinApp()->platform()->setInitialWindowSize(QSize(1280, 1024));
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(kwinApp()->platform(), "setOutputCount", Qt::DirectConnection, Q_ARG(int, 2));
-    waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit());
+    QVERIFY(waylandServer()->init(s_socketName.toLocal8Bit()));
 
     kwinApp()->start();
     QVERIFY(workspaceCreatedSpy.wait());
diff --git a/main_wayland.cpp b/main_wayland.cpp
--- a/main_wayland.cpp
+++ b/main_wayland.cpp
@@ -90,7 +90,9 @@
         return;
     }
 
-    kwinApp()->platform()->setOutputsEnabled(false);
+    if (kwinApp()->platform()) {
+        kwinApp()->platform()->setOutputsEnabled(false);
+    }
     // need to unload all effects prior to destroying X connection as they might do X calls
     if (effects) {
         static_cast<EffectsHandlerImpl*>(effects)->unloadAllEffects();
@@ -710,7 +712,10 @@
     if (parser.isSet(screenLockerOption)) {
         flags = KWin::WaylandServer::InitalizationFlag::LockScreen;
     }
-    server->init(parser.value(waylandSocketOption).toUtf8(), flags);
+    if (!server->init(parser.value(waylandSocketOption).toUtf8(), flags)) {
+        std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR: could not create Wayland server" << std::endl;
+        return 1;
+    }
 
     a.initPlatform(*pluginIt);
     if (!a.platform()) {
diff --git a/wayland_server.h b/wayland_server.h
--- a/wayland_server.h
+++ b/wayland_server.h
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
     Q_DECLARE_FLAGS(InitalizationFlags, InitalizationFlag)
 
     virtual ~WaylandServer();
-    void init(const QByteArray &socketName = QByteArray(), InitalizationFlags flags = InitalizationFlag::NoOptions);
+    bool init(const QByteArray &socketName = QByteArray(), InitalizationFlags flags = InitalizationFlag::NoOptions);
     void terminateClientConnections();
 
     KWayland::Server::Display *display() {
diff --git a/wayland_server.cpp b/wayland_server.cpp
--- a/wayland_server.cpp
+++ b/wayland_server.cpp
@@ -113,14 +113,17 @@
     }
 }
 
-void WaylandServer::init(const QByteArray &socketName, InitalizationFlags flags)
+bool WaylandServer::init(const QByteArray &socketName, InitalizationFlags flags)
 {
     m_initFlags = flags;
     m_display = new KWayland::Server::Display(this);
     if (!socketName.isNull() && !socketName.isEmpty()) {
         m_display->setSocketName(QString::fromUtf8(socketName));
     }
     m_display->start();
+    if (!m_display->isRunning()) {
+        return false;
+    }
     m_compositor = m_display->createCompositor(m_display);
     m_compositor->create();
     connect(m_compositor, &CompositorInterface::surfaceCreated, this,
@@ -264,6 +267,8 @@
     m_outputManagement->create();
 
     m_display->createSubCompositor(m_display)->create();
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 void WaylandServer::shellClientShown(Toplevel *t)