diff --git a/bindings/py3devil1pld.py b/bindings/py3devil1pld.py
index bb4d54c..62ed79b 100644
--- a/bindings/py3devil1pld.py
+++ b/bindings/py3devil1pld.py
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ class pyPldHeader:
         # Store C Struct in order to call C functions
         self.cstruct = PldHeader()
         if filedata:
-            devil1pld.getheader(ctypes.byref(self.cstruct), filedata)
+            if not devil1pld.getheader(ctypes.byref(self.cstruct), filedata):
+                raise RuntimeError("failed to get .pld header")
             self.eof = len(filedata)
 
     def show(self):