diff --git a/core/jni/android_view_SurfaceControl.cpp b/core/jni/android_view_SurfaceControl.cpp
index 0d8a95c..73b3f52 100644
--- a/core/jni/android_view_SurfaceControl.cpp
+++ b/core/jni/android_view_SurfaceControl.cpp
@@ -371,7 +371,12 @@
     if (sur != NULL) {
         bufferProducer = sur->getIGraphicBufferProducer();
     }
-    SurfaceComposerClient::setDisplaySurface(token, bufferProducer);
+    status_t err = SurfaceComposerClient::setDisplaySurface(token,
+            bufferProducer);
+    if (err != NO_ERROR) {
+        doThrowIAE(env, "Illegal Surface, could not enable async mode. Was this"
+                " Surface created with singleBufferMode?");
+    }
 }
 
 static void nativeSetDisplayLayerStack(JNIEnv* env, jclass clazz,