diff --git a/arch/mips/sgi-ip32/ip32-reset.c b/arch/mips/sgi-ip32/ip32-reset.c
index db80844..624bbdb 100644
--- a/arch/mips/sgi-ip32/ip32-reset.c
+++ b/arch/mips/sgi-ip32/ip32-reset.c
@@ -195,7 +195,8 @@
 	blink_timer.function = blink_timeout;
 	atomic_notifier_chain_register(&panic_notifier_list, &panic_block);
 
-	request_irq(MACEISA_RTC_IRQ, ip32_rtc_int, 0, "rtc", NULL);
+	if (request_irq(MACEISA_RTC_IRQ, ip32_rtc_int, 0, "rtc", NULL))
+		panic("Can't allocate MACEISA RTC IRQ");
 
 	return 0;
 }