diff --git a/rtc_linux.c b/rtc_linux.c
index f5bc9bd..fad95b5 100644
--- a/rtc_linux.c
+++ b/rtc_linux.c
@@ -484,17 +484,19 @@ write_coefs_to_file(int valid,time_t ref_time,double offset,double rate)
 
 /* ================================================== */
 
-static void
+static int
 switch_interrupts(int on_off)
 {
   if (ioctl(fd, on_off ? RTC_UIE_ON : RTC_UIE_OFF, 0) < 0) {
     LOG(LOGS_ERR, "Could not %s RTC interrupt : %s",
         on_off ? "enable" : "disable", strerror(errno));
-    return;
+    return 0;
   }
 
   if (on_off)
     skip_interrupts = 1;
+
+  return 1;
 }
 
 /* ================================================== */
@@ -513,6 +515,12 @@ RTC_Linux_Initialise(void)
     return 0;
   }
 
+  /* Make sure the RTC supports interrupts */
+  if (!switch_interrupts(0)) {
+    close(fd);
+    return 0;
+  }
+
   /* Close on exec */
   UTI_FdSetCloexec(fd);