diff --git a/scripts/modules/bpy_hydra.py b/scripts/modules/bpy_hydra.py
index 1329c74b344c..5fd60ef1ae2a 100644
--- a/scripts/modules/bpy_hydra.py
+++ b/scripts/modules/bpy_hydra.py
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ class HydraRenderEngine(bpy.types.RenderEngine):
             return
 
         _bpy_hydra.engine_free(self.engine_ptr)
-        del self.engine_ptr
 
     @classmethod
     def register(cls):
@@ -95,6 +94,8 @@ class HydraRenderEngine(bpy.types.RenderEngine):
     def update(self, data, depsgraph):
         engine_type = 'PREVIEW' if self.is_preview else 'FINAL'
         self.engine_ptr = _bpy_hydra.engine_create(self.as_pointer(), engine_type, self.delegate_id)
+        if not self.engine_ptr:
+            return
 
         for key, val in self.get_sync_settings(engine_type).items():
             _bpy_hydra.engine_set_sync_setting(self.engine_ptr, key, val)
@@ -114,6 +115,8 @@ class HydraRenderEngine(bpy.types.RenderEngine):
     def view_update(self, context, depsgraph):
         if not self.engine_ptr:
             self.engine_ptr = _bpy_hydra.engine_create(self.as_pointer(), 'VIEWPORT', self.delegate_id)
+        if not self.engine_ptr:
+            return
 
         for key, val in self.get_sync_settings('VIEWPORT').items():
             _bpy_hydra.engine_set_sync_setting(self.engine_ptr, key, val)
diff --git a/source/blender/render/hydra/engine.cc b/source/blender/render/hydra/engine.cc
index d4cd901dbdc4..6db6920a31a2 100644
--- a/source/blender/render/hydra/engine.cc
+++ b/source/blender/render/hydra/engine.cc
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ Engine::Engine(RenderEngine *bl_engine, const std::string &render_delegate_name)
   pxr::HdRendererPluginRegistry &registry = pxr::HdRendererPluginRegistry::GetInstance();
 
   pxr::TF_PY_ALLOW_THREADS_IN_SCOPE();
-  render_delegate_ = registry.CreateRenderDelegate(pxr::TfToken(render_delegate_name));
 
   /* USD has limited support for Vulkan. To make it works USD should be built
    * with PXR_ENABLE_VULKAN_SUPPORT=TRUE which is not possible now */
@@ -39,6 +38,11 @@ Engine::Engine(RenderEngine *bl_engine, const std::string &render_delegate_name)
 
     hd_drivers.push_back(&hgi_driver_);
   }
+  render_delegate_ = registry.CreateRenderDelegate(pxr::TfToken(render_delegate_name));
+
+  if (!render_delegate_) {
+    throw std::runtime_error("Cannot create render delegate: " + render_delegate_name);
+  }
 
   render_index_.reset(pxr::HdRenderIndex::New(render_delegate_.Get(), hd_drivers));
   free_camera_delegate_ = std::make_unique<pxr::HdxFreeCameraSceneDelegate>(
diff --git a/source/blender/render/hydra/python.cc b/source/blender/render/hydra/python.cc
index f0c922194881..3aff44b38b36 100644
--- a/source/blender/render/hydra/python.cc
+++ b/source/blender/render/hydra/python.cc
@@ -65,23 +65,30 @@ static PyObject *engine_create_func(PyObject * /*self*/, PyObject *args)
 
   RenderEngine *bl_engine = (RenderEngine *)PyLong_AsVoidPtr(pyengine);
 
-  Engine *engine;
-  if (STREQ(engine_type, "VIEWPORT")) {
-    engine = new ViewportEngine(bl_engine, render_delegate_id);
-  }
-  else if (STREQ(engine_type, "PREVIEW")) {
-    engine = new PreviewEngine(bl_engine, render_delegate_id);
-  }
-  else {
-    if (bl_engine->type->flag & RE_USE_GPU_CONTEXT) {
-      engine = new FinalEngineGL(bl_engine, render_delegate_id);
+  Engine *engine = nullptr;
+  try {
+    if (STREQ(engine_type, "VIEWPORT")) {
+      engine = new ViewportEngine(bl_engine, render_delegate_id);
+    }
+    else if (STREQ(engine_type, "PREVIEW")) {
+      engine = new PreviewEngine(bl_engine, render_delegate_id);
     }
     else {
-      engine = new FinalEngine(bl_engine, render_delegate_id);
+      if (bl_engine->type->flag & RE_USE_GPU_CONTEXT) {
+        engine = new FinalEngineGL(bl_engine, render_delegate_id);
+      }
+      else {
+        engine = new FinalEngine(bl_engine, render_delegate_id);
+      }
     }
   }
+  catch (std::runtime_error &e) {
+    CLOG_ERROR(LOG_RENDER_HYDRA, "%s", e.what());
+  }
 
-  CLOG_INFO(LOG_RENDER_HYDRA, 1, "Engine %016llx %s", engine, engine_type);
+  if (engine) {
+    CLOG_INFO(LOG_RENDER_HYDRA, 1, "Engine %016llx %s", engine, engine_type);
+  }
   return PyLong_FromVoidPtr(engine);
 }