diff --git a/zyklonb.c b/zyklonb.c
index 56a9220..4a04757 100644
--- a/zyklonb.c
+++ b/zyklonb.c
@@ -1727,6 +1727,8 @@ irc_establish_connection_socks (struct bot_context *ctx,
 			str_map_find (&ctx->config, "socks_password"));
 		while (data.polling)
 			poller_run (poller);
+		if (!data.succeeded)
+			error_set (e, "connection failed");
 	}
 
 	socks_connector_free (connector);