diff --git a/frontend/ui/message/simpletcpserver.lua b/frontend/ui/message/simpletcpserver.lua
index 0e63d1540..f37e82b44 100644
--- a/frontend/ui/message/simpletcpserver.lua
+++ b/frontend/ui/message/simpletcpserver.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 local socket = require("socket")
 local logger = require("logger")
+local _ = require("gettext")
+local T = require("ffi/util").template
 
 -- Reference:
 -- https://lunarmodules.github.io/luasocket/tcp.html
@@ -23,7 +25,11 @@ function SimpleTCPServer:new(o)
 end
 
 function SimpleTCPServer:start()
-    self.server = socket.bind(self.host, self.port)
+    local server, err = socket.bind(self.host, self.port)
+    if not server then
+        return false, (err and T(_("Failed to bind socket: %1"), err) or _("Failed to bind socket"))
+    end
+    self.server = server
     self.server:settimeout(0.01) -- set timeout (10ms)
     logger.dbg("SimpleTCPServer: Server listening on port " .. self.port)
 end
diff --git a/plugins/httpinspector.koplugin/main.lua b/plugins/httpinspector.koplugin/main.lua
index 7a2d90476..d8418fe68 100644
--- a/plugins/httpinspector.koplugin/main.lua
+++ b/plugins/httpinspector.koplugin/main.lua
@@ -100,10 +100,18 @@ function HttpInspector:start()
         port = self.port,
         receiveCallback = function(data, id) return self:onRequest(data, id) end,
     }
-    self.http_socket:start()
-    self.http_messagequeue = UIManager:insertZMQ(self.http_socket)
-
-    logger.dbg("HttpInspector: Server listening on port " .. self.port)
+    local ok, err = self.http_socket:start()
+    if ok then
+        self.http_messagequeue = UIManager:insertZMQ(self.http_socket)
+        logger.dbg("HttpInspector: Server listening on port " .. self.port)
+    else
+        logger.err("HttpInspector: Failed to start server:", err)
+        self.http_socket = nil
+        local InfoMessage = require("ui/widget/infomessage")
+        UIManager:show(InfoMessage:new{
+            text = T(_("Failed to start HTTP inspector on port %1."), self.port) .. "\n\n" .. err,
+        })
+    end
 end
 
 function HttpInspector:stop()