diff --git a/StateMachineController.cpp b/StateMachineController.cpp
index 1a3da69..32c3bef 100644
--- a/StateMachineController.cpp
+++ b/StateMachineController.cpp
@@ -64,18 +64,21 @@ StateMachineController::StateMachineController(QObject *parent)
     // nidaq->DAQmxInitializeInterface();
 
     tdt = new TDTInterface();
-    tdt->initializeInterface();
-
-    logFileThread = new QThread(this);
-    logFileWriter = new LogFileWriter();
-
-    /*Thread-safe event communication*/
-    connect(this, SIGNAL(openLogFile(QString)), logFileWriter, SLOT(onOpen(QString)));
-    connect(this, SIGNAL(closeLogFile()), logFileWriter, SLOT(onClose()));
-    connect(this, SIGNAL(writeToLogFile(QString, uint, uint, QString)), logFileWriter, SLOT(onWrite(QString, uint, uint, QString)));
-    connect(nidaq, SIGNAL(writeToLogFile(QString, uint, uint, QString)), logFileWriter, SLOT(onWrite(QString, uint, uint, QString)));
-    logFileWriter->moveToThread(logFileThread);
-    logFileThread->start();
+    if(!tdt->initializeInterface()){
+        logFileThread = new QThread(this);
+        logFileWriter = new LogFileWriter();
+
+        /*Thread-safe event communication*/
+        connect(this, SIGNAL(openLogFile(QString)), logFileWriter, SLOT(onOpen(QString)));
+        connect(this, SIGNAL(closeLogFile()), logFileWriter, SLOT(onClose()));
+        connect(this, SIGNAL(writeToLogFile(QString, uint, uint, QString)), logFileWriter, SLOT(onWrite(QString, uint, uint, QString)));
+        connect(nidaq, SIGNAL(writeToLogFile(QString, uint, uint, QString)), logFileWriter, SLOT(onWrite(QString, uint, uint, QString)));
+        logFileWriter->moveToThread(logFileThread);
+        logFileThread->start();
+    }else{
+        QMessageBox messageBox;
+        messageBox.critical(0,"Error","Unable to initialize TDT audio interface!");
+    }
 
 
 }
diff --git a/StateMachineController.h b/StateMachineController.h
index 64baeb9..efd1489 100644
--- a/StateMachineController.h
+++ b/StateMachineController.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <QHistoryState>
 #include <QDebug>
 #include <QTime>
+#include <QMessageBox>
 
 #include <ctime>
 #include <algorithm> //std::random_shuffle
diff --git a/TDTInterface.cpp b/TDTInterface.cpp
index 22d948d..adbec8e 100644
--- a/TDTInterface.cpp
+++ b/TDTInterface.cpp
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 #include "TDTInterface.h"
 
 /* initialize TDT Sound System */
-void TDTInterface::initializeInterface()
+int TDTInterface::initializeInterface()
 {
 
     /* connect to RP2 system */
     if (!rp.ConnectRP2("USB", 1))
     {
         fprintf(stderr, "TDTError:TDTInterface/TDTInitializeInterface:\n\tfailed to connect to RP2!\n");
-        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+        return(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
     /* check status */
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ void TDTInterface::initializeInterface()
             rp.ClearCOF();
     }
 
-    return;
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /* destroy TDT Engine */
diff --git a/TDTInterface.h b/TDTInterface.h
index 70caed8..cf270e3 100644
--- a/TDTInterface.h
+++ b/TDTInterface.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class TDTInterface
     static const int TDT_STATUS_CIRCUIT_RUNNING = 0x04;
 
     /* funciton prototypes */
-    void initializeInterface();
+    int initializeInterface();
     void loadRCXCircuit(QString fileName);
     void destroyInterface();