diff --git a/examples/common.h b/examples/common.h
index 4e7e50f9558..ff21dab0140 100644
--- a/examples/common.h
+++ b/examples/common.h
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ class wav_writer {
 
           // Check if write was successful
           if (!fstream.good()) {
-            std::cerr << "Error writing to WAV file\n";
+            fprintf(stderr, "Error writing to WAV file\n");
             return false; // Stop writing and return an error
           }
         }
diff --git a/examples/recorder/recorder.cpp b/examples/recorder/recorder.cpp
index 461a2b82f30..7732cb0f85c 100644
--- a/examples/recorder/recorder.cpp
+++ b/examples/recorder/recorder.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
     if (SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_AUDIO) < 0) {
       SDL_LogError(SDL_LOG_CATEGORY_APPLICATION, "Couldn't initialize SDL: %s\n", SDL_GetError());
-      return false;
+      return -1;
     }
 
     SDL_SetHintWithPriority(SDL_HINT_AUDIO_RESAMPLING_MODE, "medium", SDL_HINT_OVERRIDE);
@@ -71,7 +71,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
   // main audio loop
   while (is_running) {
     audio.get(3000, pcmf32_new);
-    wavWriter.write(pcmf32_new.data(), pcmf32_new.size());
+    if (!wavWriter.write(pcmf32_new.data(), pcmf32_new.size())) {
+      fprintf(stderr, "Failed to write audio data. Stopping.\n");
+      return -1;
+    }
     // handle Ctrl + C
     is_running = sdl_poll_events();