diff --git a/init/util.cpp b/init/util.cpp
index b316d6ec4..c7d031404 100644
--- a/init/util.cpp
+++ b/init/util.cpp
@@ -105,8 +105,12 @@ int create_socket(const char *name, int type, mode_t perm, uid_t uid,
     int fd, ret;
     char *filecon;
 
-    if (socketcon)
-        setsockcreatecon(socketcon);
+    if (socketcon) {
+        if (setsockcreatecon(socketcon) == -1) {
+            ERROR("setsockcreatecon(\"%s\") failed: %s\n", socketcon, strerror(errno));
+            return -1;
+        }
+    }
 
     fd = socket(PF_UNIX, type, 0);
     if (fd < 0) {