diff --git a/ggml-metal.m b/ggml-metal.m
index 4e709153c..32f339e27 100644
--- a/ggml-metal.m
+++ b/ggml-metal.m
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ struct ggml_metal_context * ggml_metal_init(int n_cb) {
         fprintf(stderr, "%s: loaded %-32s %16p\n", __func__, "kernel_"#name, (void *) ctx->pipeline_##name); \
         if (error) { \
             fprintf(stderr, "%s: load pipeline error: %s\n", __func__, [[error description] UTF8String]); \
+            return NULL; \
         }
 
         GGML_METAL_ADD_KERNEL(add);