diff --git a/src/httpd_jsonapi.c b/src/httpd_jsonapi.c
index 0acf3751..0e47cb19 100644
--- a/src/httpd_jsonapi.c
+++ b/src/httpd_jsonapi.c
@@ -1335,6 +1335,13 @@ play_item_with_id(const char *param)
   ret = player_playback_start_byitem(queue_item);
   free_queue_item(queue_item, 0);
 
+  if (ret < 0)
+    {
+      DPRINTF(E_LOG, L_WEB, "Failed to start playback from item with id '%d'\n", item_id);
+
+      return HTTP_INTERNAL;
+    }
+
   return HTTP_NOCONTENT;
 }
 
@@ -1368,6 +1375,13 @@ play_item_at_position(const char *param)
   ret = player_playback_start_byitem(queue_item);
   free_queue_item(queue_item, 0);
 
+  if (ret < 0)
+    {
+      DPRINTF(E_LOG, L_WEB, "Failed to start playback from position '%d'\n", position);
+
+      return HTTP_INTERNAL;
+    }
+
   return HTTP_NOCONTENT;
 }