diff --git a/bar/bar.c b/bar/bar.c
index 2a59e9a..3cd793b 100644
--- a/bar/bar.c
+++ b/bar/bar.c
@@ -239,7 +239,8 @@ run(struct bar *_bar)
 
     if (!bar->backend.iface->setup(_bar)) {
         bar->backend.iface->cleanup(_bar);
-        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");
         return 1;
     }