diff --git a/src/shaders.c b/src/shaders.c
index 837e049..7aa0f97 100644
--- a/src/shaders.c
+++ b/src/shaders.c
@@ -462,6 +462,8 @@ static bool init_single_program(ShaderProgram *program, unsigned int i,
   unsigned int index2;
   char name[STR_LEN];
   const char *prefix;
+  GLint link_status;
+  char link_log[STR_LEN];
 
   program->programs[i] = glCreateProgram();
   if (check_glerror(program, "init_single_program/glCreateProgram")) {
@@ -479,6 +481,19 @@ static bool init_single_program(ShaderProgram *program, unsigned int i,
     return false;
   }
 
+  glGetProgramiv(program->programs[i], GL_LINK_STATUS, &link_status);
+  if (check_glerror(program, "init_single_program/glGetProgramiv")) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (link_status != GL_TRUE) {
+    glGetProgramInfoLog(program->programs[i], STR_LEN, NULL, link_log);
+    if (check_glerror(program, "init_single_program/glGetProgramInfoLog")) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    log_error("Program %d link error: %s", i + 1, link_log);
+    return false;
+  }
+
   // create uniforms pointers
   program->itime_locations[i] = glGetUniformLocation(
       program->programs[i],