diff --git a/src/dxvk/dxvk_instance.cpp b/src/dxvk/dxvk_instance.cpp
index 0d8d5a075..8010e740b 100644
--- a/src/dxvk/dxvk_instance.cpp
+++ b/src/dxvk/dxvk_instance.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ namespace dxvk {
       provider->initInstanceExtensions();
 
     m_vkl = new vk::LibraryFn();
+    if (!m_vkl->valid())
+      throw DxvkError("Failed to load vulkan-1 library.");
     m_vki = new vk::InstanceFn(m_vkl, true, this->createInstance());
 
     m_adapters = this->queryAdapters();