diff --git a/posttroll/subscriber.py b/posttroll/subscriber.py
index de78e27..e1fb6fe 100644
--- a/posttroll/subscriber.py
+++ b/posttroll/subscriber.py
@@ -191,6 +191,8 @@ def recv(self, timeout=None):
 
         for sub in list(self.subscribers) + self._hooks:
             self.poller.register(sub, POLLIN)
+        if not self.poller.sockets:
+            raise IOError("No sockect to poll")
         self._loop = True
         try:
             while self._loop: