diff --git a/benchmark/nixlbench/src/worker/nixl/nixl_worker.cpp b/benchmark/nixlbench/src/worker/nixl/nixl_worker.cpp
index f376678bc..93b31b7d5 100644
--- a/benchmark/nixlbench/src/worker/nixl/nixl_worker.cpp
+++ b/benchmark/nixlbench/src/worker/nixl/nixl_worker.cpp
@@ -265,7 +265,8 @@ xferBenchNixlWorker::xferBenchNixlWorker(int *argc, char ***argv, std::vector<st
         exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
-    agent->createBackend(backend_name, backend_params, backend_engine);
+    CHECK_NIXL_ERROR(agent->createBackend(backend_name, backend_params, backend_engine),
+                     "createBackend failed!");
 }
 
 xferBenchNixlWorker::~xferBenchNixlWorker() {