diff --git a/extras/hs-test/suite_nginx_test.go b/extras/hs-test/suite_nginx_test.go
index c250ed7..4fc0626 100644
--- a/extras/hs-test/suite_nginx_test.go
+++ b/extras/hs-test/suite_nginx_test.go
@@ -33,13 +33,13 @@
 	// ... for proxy
 	vppProxyContainer := s.getContainerByName(vppProxyContainerName)
 	proxyVpp, _ := vppProxyContainer.newVppInstance(cpus, sessionConfig)
-	proxyVpp.start()
+	s.assertNil(proxyVpp.start())
 
 	clientInterface := s.netInterfaces[mirroringClientInterfaceName]
-	proxyVpp.createTap(clientInterface, 1)
+	s.assertNil(proxyVpp.createTap(clientInterface, 1))
 
 	serverInterface := s.netInterfaces[mirroringServerInterfaceName]
-	proxyVpp.createTap(serverInterface, 2)
+	s.assertNil(proxyVpp.createTap(serverInterface, 2))
 
 	nginxContainer := s.getTransientContainerByName(nginxProxyContainerName)
 	nginxContainer.create()
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 		"./resources/nginx/nginx_proxy_mirroring.conf",
 		values,
 	)
-	nginxContainer.start()
+	s.assertNil(nginxContainer.start())
 
 	proxyVpp.waitForApp("nginx-", 5)
 }
diff --git a/extras/hs-test/suite_no_topo_test.go b/extras/hs-test/suite_no_topo_test.go
index 8f7c876..c6b3170 100644
--- a/extras/hs-test/suite_no_topo_test.go
+++ b/extras/hs-test/suite_no_topo_test.go
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@
 	cpus := s.AllocateCpus()
 	container := s.getContainerByName(singleTopoContainerVpp)
 	vpp, _ := container.newVppInstance(cpus, sessionConfig)
-	vpp.start()
+	s.assertNil(vpp.start())
 
 	tapInterface := s.netInterfaces[tapInterfaceName]
 
-	vpp.createTap(tapInterface)
+	s.assertNil(vpp.createTap(tapInterface), "failed to create tap interface")
 }
diff --git a/extras/hs-test/suite_ns_test.go b/extras/hs-test/suite_ns_test.go
index 3bf3cc7..2c1ac34 100644
--- a/extras/hs-test/suite_ns_test.go
+++ b/extras/hs-test/suite_ns_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 	cpus := s.AllocateCpus()
 	container := s.getContainerByName("vpp")
 	vpp, _ := container.newVppInstance(cpus, sessionConfig)
-	vpp.start()
+	s.assertNil(vpp.start())
 
 	idx, err := vpp.createAfPacket(s.netInterfaces[serverInterface])
 	s.assertNil(err)
diff --git a/extras/hs-test/suite_veth_test.go b/extras/hs-test/suite_veth_test.go
index d099127..de4812d 100644
--- a/extras/hs-test/suite_veth_test.go
+++ b/extras/hs-test/suite_veth_test.go
@@ -53,9 +53,7 @@
 
 func (s *VethsSuite) setupServerVpp() {
 	serverVpp := s.getContainerByName("server-vpp").vppInstance
-
-	err := serverVpp.start()
-	s.assertNil(err)
+	s.assertNil(serverVpp.start())
 
 	serverVeth := s.netInterfaces[serverInterfaceName]
 	idx, err := serverVpp.createAfPacket(serverVeth)
@@ -65,9 +63,7 @@
 
 func (s *VethsSuite) setupClientVpp() {
 	clientVpp := s.getContainerByName("client-vpp").vppInstance
-
-	err := clientVpp.start()
-	s.assertNil(err)
+	s.assertNil(clientVpp.start())
 
 	clientVeth := s.netInterfaces[clientInterfaceName]
 	idx, err := clientVpp.createAfPacket(clientVeth)
diff --git a/extras/hs-test/vppinstance.go b/extras/hs-test/vppinstance.go
index e909b85..1a058c8 100644
--- a/extras/hs-test/vppinstance.go
+++ b/extras/hs-test/vppinstance.go
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@
 		core.DefaultReconnectInterval)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("async connect error: ", err)
+		return err
 	}
 	vpp.connection = conn
 
@@ -172,12 +173,15 @@
 	ch, err := conn.NewAPIChannel()
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("creating channel failed: ", err)
+		return err
 	}
 	if err := ch.CheckCompatiblity(vpe.AllMessages()...); err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("compatibility error: ", err)
+		return err
 	}
 	if err := ch.CheckCompatiblity(interfaces.AllMessages()...); err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("compatibility error: ", err)
+		return err
 	}
 	vpp.apiChannel = ch