diff --git a/jtag/include/ctrl.h b/jtag/include/ctrl.h
index 93e5c10b..4ad9585a 100644
--- a/jtag/include/ctrl.h
+++ b/jtag/include/ctrl.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 /*
  * low level tap functions, hardware dependent
  */
-void tap_init( void );
+int tap_init( void );
 void tap_done( void );
 
 void tap_clock( int tms, int tdi );
diff --git a/jtag/src/jtag.c b/jtag/src/jtag.c
index 7b6bd879..ad5c1f84 100644
--- a/jtag/src/jtag.c
+++ b/jtag/src/jtag.c
@@ -57,7 +57,10 @@ main( void )
 			"There is absolutely no warranty for " PACKAGE ".\n\n"
 	);
 
-	tap_init();
+	if (!tap_init()) {
+		printf( "TAP initialization failed! Exiting.\n" );
+		return 1;
+	}
 
 	tap_set_trst( 0 );
 	tap_set_trst( 1 );
diff --git a/jtag/src/tap/ctrl.c b/jtag/src/tap/ctrl.c
index 5a11b800..773d759c 100644
--- a/jtag/src/tap/ctrl.c
+++ b/jtag/src/tap/ctrl.c
@@ -36,16 +36,18 @@
 
 static unsigned short int port = 0x378;
 
-void
+int
 tap_init( void )
 {
 	tap_state_init();
 	printf( "Initilizing parallel TAP on port 0x%x\n", port );
 	if (ioperm( port, 2, 1 )) {
 		printf( "Error: Initialization failed!\n" );
-		return;
+		return 0;
 	}
 	tap_state_set_trst( (inb( port ) >> TRST) & 1 );
+
+	return 1;
 }
 
 void