diff --git a/src/emacs.c b/src/emacs.c
index 50b1628d207..173e8e8923d 100644
--- a/src/emacs.c
+++ b/src/emacs.c
@@ -2807,7 +2807,8 @@ killed.  */
 
   if (!NILP (restart))
     {
-      execvp (*initial_argv, initial_argv);
+      if (execvp (*initial_argv, initial_argv) < 1)
+	error ("Unable to re-execute Emacs");
     }
 
   if (FIXNUMP (arg))