diff --git a/include/esp32-lora.h b/include/esp32-lora.h
index 81ee6de..9fc0b8f 100644
--- a/include/esp32-lora.h
+++ b/include/esp32-lora.h
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
 
 #define EV_DIO0 (1 << 0)
 
-#define ERR_LOR_ID_MISMATCH (00)
+#define ERR_LOR_VERSION_MISMATCH (01)
 
 enum freq {
   F433, F866, F915
diff --git a/main/esp32-lora.c b/main/esp32-lora.c
index 353dd2e..a52d7c6 100644
--- a/main/esp32-lora.c
+++ b/main/esp32-lora.c
@@ -463,7 +463,13 @@ uint8_t lora32_init(lora32_cfg_t *lora) {
 
   uint8_t version = lora32_read_reg(lora, REG_VERSION);
   ESP_LOGD(TAG, "lora32_get_id() == 0x%2X", version);
-  assert(version == 0x12);
+
+  // if ID does not match, something is likely wrong on the SPI bus
+  if(version != 0x12) {
+    ESP_LOGD(TAG, "REG_VERSION returned incorrectly. Expected 0x12 got 0x%02X", version);
+
+    return ERR_LOR_VERSION_MISMATCH;
+  }
 
   // TODO: confirm this is happening. Before/after power measurements?
   lora32_sleep(lora);