diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-udev.c b/src/backends/native/meta-udev.c
index 2f19c8c9c..4cf9e379f 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-udev.c
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-udev.c
@@ -148,6 +148,13 @@ meta_udev_list_drm_devices (MetaUdev  *udev,
       l = l_next;
     }
 
+  if (!devices)
+    {
+      g_set_error (error, G_IO_ERROR, G_IO_ERROR_FAILED,
+                   "No DRM devices found");
+      return NULL;
+    }
+
   return devices;
 }