diff --git a/extlib/benz/state.c b/extlib/benz/state.c
index 70e09571..ec9c24e5 100644
--- a/extlib/benz/state.c
+++ b/extlib/benz/state.c
@@ -156,7 +156,13 @@ pic_init_core(pic_state *pic)
     pic_init_attr(pic); DONE;
     pic_init_reg(pic); DONE;
 
-    pic_load_cstr(pic, &pic_boot[0][0]);
+    pic_try {
+      pic_load_cstr(pic, &pic_boot[0][0]);
+    }
+    pic_catch {
+      pic_print_backtrace(pic, xstdout);
+      pic_panic(pic, "");
+    }
   }
 
   pic_import(pic, pic->PICRIN_BASE);