diff --git a/gui/canvas.cpp b/gui/canvas.cpp
index fce5edd9..0830ddf7 100644
--- a/gui/canvas.cpp
+++ b/gui/canvas.cpp
@@ -70,6 +70,14 @@ public:
   void * context;
 };
 
+bool
+canvas_init(
+  void)
+{
+  Gnome::Canvas::init();
+  return true;
+}
+
 bool
 canvas_create(
   double width,
diff --git a/gui/canvas.h b/gui/canvas.h
index e2b0ebf5..3d130cd8 100644
--- a/gui/canvas.h
+++ b/gui/canvas.h
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ extern "C" {
 } /* Adjust editor indent */
 #endif
 
+bool
+canvas_init(
+  void);
+
 bool
 canvas_create(
   double width,
diff --git a/gui/main.cpp b/gui/main.cpp
index 04628f69..8c76205d 100644
--- a/gui/main.cpp
+++ b/gui/main.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "Widget.hpp"
 #include <gtkmm.h>
+#include "../common/debug.h"
 
 //class a2j_proxy;
 //class lash_proxy;
@@ -905,9 +906,13 @@ glade_open()
 
 int main(int argc, char** argv)
 {
+  if (!canvas_init()) {
+    lash_error("Canvas initialization failed.");
+    return 1;
+  }
+
   try {
   
-  Gnome::Canvas::init();
   Gtk::Main app(argc, argv);
 
   g_xml = glade_open();