diff --git a/bar/xcb.c b/bar/xcb.c
index 30fdba0..f2dcd3c 100644
--- a/bar/xcb.c
+++ b/bar/xcb.c
@@ -311,7 +311,11 @@ loop(struct bar *_bar,
 
         if (fds[1].revents & POLLHUP) {
             LOG_WARN("disconnected from XCB");
-            write(_bar->abort_fd, &(uint64_t){1}, sizeof(uint64_t));
+            if (write(_bar->abort_fd, &(uint64_t){1}, sizeof(uint64_t))
+                != sizeof(uint64_t))
+            {
+                LOG_ERRNO("failed to signal abort to modules");
+            }
             break;
         }