diff --git a/awslambdaric/lambda_runtime_client.py b/awslambdaric/lambda_runtime_client.py
index ba85902..ecc52c4 100644
--- a/awslambdaric/lambda_runtime_client.py
+++ b/awslambdaric/lambda_runtime_client.py
@@ -3,10 +3,11 @@
 """
 
 import sys
+import logging
+
 from awslambdaric import __version__
 from .lambda_runtime_exception import FaultException
 
-
 def _user_agent():
     py_version = (
         f"{sys.version_info.major}.{sys.version_info.minor}.{sys.version_info.micro}"
@@ -19,8 +20,8 @@ def _user_agent():
     import runtime_client
 
     runtime_client.initialize_client(_user_agent())
-except ImportError:
-    runtime_client = None
+except ImportError as import_error:
+    logging.fatal('Failed to import "runtime_client" cpp file. %s', import_error)
 
 from .lambda_runtime_marshaller import LambdaMarshaller