diff --git a/cmd/serve.go b/cmd/serve.go
index b8a34be..22c793c 100644
--- a/cmd/serve.go
+++ b/cmd/serve.go
@@ -63,7 +63,14 @@ var serveCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 		// make the default directories and files if flag is passed
 		if cmd.Flags().Changed("init") {
-			server.Init()
+			err = server.Init()
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Error().Err(err).
+					Str("host", parsed.Host).
+					Str("root", rootPath).
+					Msg("failed to initialize server root")
+				return
+			}
 		}
 
 		// serve and log why the server closed