diff --git a/init.c b/init.c
index c44fa67..70b56e3 100644
--- a/init.c
+++ b/init.c
@@ -749,6 +749,10 @@
 	 */
 	if (td->io_ops)
 		return 0;
+	if (!td->o.ioengine) {
+		log_err("fio: internal fault, no IO engine specified\n");
+		return 1;
+	}
 
 	engine = get_engine_name(td->o.ioengine);
 	td->io_ops = load_ioengine(td, engine);