diff --git a/src/forge.c b/src/forge.c
index 92ff24a..3c656c4 100644
--- a/src/forge.c
+++ b/src/forge.c
@@ -108,8 +108,13 @@ static void start_video_background_read(VideoCapture *video_capture,
   process_args->context = context;
   process_args->input_index = input_index;
   process_args->trace_fps = trace_fps;
-  pthread_create(&thread, NULL, video_background_read, (void *)process_args);
-  pthread_detach(thread);
+  if (pthread_create(&thread, NULL, video_background_read,
+                     (void *)process_args) == 0) {
+    pthread_detach(thread);
+  } else {
+    log_error("background video acquisition failed to start");
+    free(process_args);
+  }
 }
 
 static void *
@@ -147,8 +152,12 @@ static void start_video_captures() {
     }
   }
   if (init_params.video_reconnect) {
-    pthread_create(&thread, NULL, background_reconnect_video_captures, NULL);
-    pthread_detach(thread);
+    if (pthread_create(&thread, NULL, background_reconnect_video_captures,
+                       NULL) == 0) {
+      pthread_detach(thread);
+    } else {
+      log_info("background video capture reconnect failed to start");
+    }
   }
 }
 
@@ -198,8 +207,13 @@ static void start_state_background_write() {
   process_args->context = &context;
   process_args->state_config = project.state_config;
   process_args->midi = &midi;
-  pthread_create(&thread, NULL, state_background_write, process_args);
-  pthread_detach(thread);
+  if (pthread_create(&thread, NULL, state_background_write, process_args) ==
+      0) {
+    pthread_detach(thread);
+  } else {
+    log_error("background writing failed to start");
+    free(process_args);
+  }
 }
 
 static void start_midi_background_listen() {
@@ -210,8 +224,13 @@ static void start_midi_background_listen() {
   process_args->device = &midi;
   process_args->context = &context;
   process_args->event_callback = midi_callback;
-  pthread_create(&thread, NULL, midi_background_listen, process_args);
-  pthread_detach(thread);
+  if (pthread_create(&thread, NULL, midi_background_listen, process_args) ==
+      0) {
+    pthread_detach(thread);
+  } else {
+    log_error("background midi acquisition failed to start");
+    free(process_args);
+  }
 }
 
 static void *background_reconnect_midi(__attribute__((unused)) void *args) {
@@ -239,8 +258,11 @@ static void init_midi() {
   }
 
   if (init_params.midi_reconnect) {
-    pthread_create(&thread, NULL, background_reconnect_midi, NULL);
-    pthread_detach(thread);
+    if (pthread_create(&thread, NULL, background_reconnect_midi, NULL) == 0) {
+      pthread_detach(thread);
+    } else {
+      log_error("background midi reconnect failed to start");
+    }
   }
 }