diff --git a/src/kits/app/Application.cpp b/src/kits/app/Application.cpp
index 59403b9a93..df662f9323 100644
--- a/src/kits/app/Application.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/app/Application.cpp
@@ -1090,6 +1090,7 @@ BApplication::connect_to_app_server()
 		fServerLink->SetSenderPort(serverPort);
 	} else {
 		fServerLink->SetSenderPort(-1);
+		fInitError = B_ERROR;
 		debugger("BApplication: couldn't obtain new app_server comm port");
 	}
 }