diff --git a/src/storage/parthelper.c b/src/storage/parthelper.c
index 812e90d3cb..29a01d3dd5 100644
--- a/src/storage/parthelper.c
+++ b/src/storage/parthelper.c
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     const char *partsep;
     bool devmap_partsep = false;
 
-    if (virGettextInitialize() < 0)
+    if (virGettextInitialize() < 0 ||
+        virErrorInitialize() < 0)
         exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 
     if (argc == 3 && STREQ(argv[2], "-g")) {