diff --git a/src/render/direct3d/SDL_render_d3d.c b/src/render/direct3d/SDL_render_d3d.c
index a6e2aeec1..2c67894c3 100644
--- a/src/render/direct3d/SDL_render_d3d.c
+++ b/src/render/direct3d/SDL_render_d3d.c
@@ -1077,7 +1077,9 @@ D3D_SetRenderTargetInternal(SDL_Renderer * renderer, SDL_Texture * texture)
 static int
 D3D_SetRenderTarget(SDL_Renderer * renderer, SDL_Texture * texture)
 {
-    D3D_ActivateRenderer(renderer);
+    if (D3D_ActivateRenderer(renderer) < 0) {
+        return -1;
+    }
 
     return D3D_SetRenderTargetInternal(renderer, texture);
 }