diff --git a/src/input_common/gcadapter/gc_adapter.cpp b/src/input_common/gcadapter/gc_adapter.cpp
index b39d2a3fb..6d9f4d9eb 100644
--- a/src/input_common/gcadapter/gc_adapter.cpp
+++ b/src/input_common/gcadapter/gc_adapter.cpp
@@ -24,9 +24,13 @@ Adapter::Adapter() {
     LOG_INFO(Input, "GC Adapter Initialization started");
 
     current_status = NO_ADAPTER_DETECTED;
-    libusb_init(&libusb_ctx);
 
-    StartScanThread();
+    const int init_res = libusb_init(&libusb_ctx);
+    if (init_res == LIBUSB_SUCCESS) {
+        StartScanThread();
+    } else {
+        LOG_ERROR(Input, "libusb could not be initialized. failed with error = {}", init_res);
+    }
 }
 
 GCPadStatus Adapter::GetPadStatus(int port, const std::array<u8, 37>& adapter_payload) {
@@ -211,17 +215,26 @@ void Adapter::Setup() {
     adapter_controllers_status.fill(ControllerTypes::None);
 
     // pointer to list of connected usb devices
-    libusb_device** devices;
+    libusb_device** devices{};
 
     // populate the list of devices, get the count
-    const std::size_t device_count = libusb_get_device_list(libusb_ctx, &devices);
+    const ssize_t device_count = libusb_get_device_list(libusb_ctx, &devices);
+    if (device_count < 0) {
+        LOG_ERROR(Input, "libusb_get_device_list failed with error: {}", device_count);
+        detect_thread_running = false; // Stop the loop constantly checking for gc adapter
+        // TODO: For hotplug+gc adapter checkbox implementation, revert this.
+        return;
+    }
 
-    for (std::size_t index = 0; index < device_count; ++index) {
-        if (CheckDeviceAccess(devices[index])) {
-            // GC Adapter found and accessible, registering it
-            GetGCEndpoint(devices[index]);
-            break;
+    if (devices != nullptr) {
+        for (std::size_t index = 0; index < device_count; ++index) {
+            if (CheckDeviceAccess(devices[index])) {
+                // GC Adapter found and accessible, registering it
+                GetGCEndpoint(devices[index]);
+                break;
+            }
         }
+        libusb_free_device_list(devices, 1);
     }
 }
 
@@ -279,7 +292,13 @@ bool Adapter::CheckDeviceAccess(libusb_device* device) {
 
 void Adapter::GetGCEndpoint(libusb_device* device) {
     libusb_config_descriptor* config = nullptr;
-    libusb_get_config_descriptor(device, 0, &config);
+    const int config_descriptor_return = libusb_get_config_descriptor(device, 0, &config);
+    if (config_descriptor_return != LIBUSB_SUCCESS) {
+        LOG_ERROR(Input, "libusb_get_config_descriptor failed with error = {}",
+                  config_descriptor_return);
+        return;
+    }
+
     for (u8 ic = 0; ic < config->bNumInterfaces; ic++) {
         const libusb_interface* interfaceContainer = &config->interface[ic];
         for (int i = 0; i < interfaceContainer->num_altsetting; i++) {