diff --git a/go/cmd/vtctldclient/internal/command/reparents.go b/go/cmd/vtctldclient/internal/command/reparents.go
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/go/cmd/vtctldclient/internal/command/reparents.go
+++ b/go/cmd/vtctldclient/internal/command/reparents.go
@@ -150,6 +150,9 @@ func commandInitShardPrimary(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		WaitReplicasTimeout:     protoutil.DurationToProto(initShardPrimaryOptions.WaitReplicasTimeout),
 		Force:                   initShardPrimaryOptions.Force,
 	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	for _, event := range resp.Events {
 		log.Infof("%v", event)
Check error response before attempting to access InitShardPrimary response