diff --git a/quic/tools/quic_toy_client.cc b/quic/tools/quic_toy_client.cc
index 09e7a50..a55382a 100644
--- a/quic/tools/quic_toy_client.cc
+++ b/quic/tools/quic_toy_client.cc
@@ -218,6 +218,11 @@
   std::unique_ptr<QuicSpdyClientBase> client = client_factory_->CreateClient(
       url.host(), host, port, versions, std::move(proof_verifier));
 
+  if (client == nullptr) {
+    std::cerr << "Failed to create client." << std::endl;
+    return 1;
+  }
+
   int32_t initial_mtu = GetQuicFlag(FLAGS_initial_mtu);
   client->set_initial_max_packet_length(
       initial_mtu != 0 ? initial_mtu : quic::kDefaultMaxPacketSize);