diff --git a/src/apprt/glfw.zig b/src/apprt/glfw.zig
index a17b18a29..8f5519a56 100644
--- a/src/apprt/glfw.zig
+++ b/src/apprt/glfw.zig
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ pub const App = struct {
 
             .initial_position => switch (target) {
                 .app => {},
-                .surface => |surface| surface.rt_surface.setInitialWindowPosition(
+                .surface => |surface| try surface.rt_surface.setInitialWindowPosition(
                     value.x,
                     value.y,
                 ),
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ pub const Surface = struct {
     /// Set the initial window position. This is called exactly once at
     /// surface initialization time. This may be called before "self"
     /// is fully initialized.
-    fn setInitialWindowPosition(self: *const Surface, x: i32, y: i32) void {
+    fn setInitialWindowPosition(self: *const Surface, x: i32, y: i32) !void {
         log.debug("setting initial window position ({},{})", .{ x, y });
 
         self.window.setPos(.{ .x = x, .y = y });
diff --git a/src/apprt/gtk/App.zig b/src/apprt/gtk/App.zig
index 24e1f4346..c7331968f 100644
--- a/src/apprt/gtk/App.zig
+++ b/src/apprt/gtk/App.zig
@@ -474,6 +474,7 @@ pub fn performAction(
         .pwd => try self.setPwd(target, value),
         .present_terminal => self.presentTerminal(target),
         .initial_size => try self.setInitialSize(target, value),
+        .initial_position => self.setInitialPosition(target, value),
         .mouse_visibility => self.setMouseVisibility(target, value),
         .mouse_shape => try self.setMouseShape(target, value),
         .mouse_over_link => self.setMouseOverLink(target, value),
@@ -794,7 +795,7 @@ fn setInitialPosition(
 ) void {
     switch (target) {
         .app => {},
-        .surface => |v| v.rt_surface.setInitialWindowPosition(
+        .surface => |v| try v.rt_surface.setInitialWindowPosition(
             value.x,
             value.y,
         ),