diff --git a/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.cpp b/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.cpp
index 580760fd9f..02eb82e10d 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.cpp
@@ -79,19 +79,17 @@ AP_Scripting::AP_Scripting() {
     _singleton = this;
 }
 
-bool AP_Scripting::init(void) {
+void AP_Scripting::init(void) {
     if (!_enable) {
-        return true;
+        return;
     }
 
     if (!hal.scheduler->thread_create(FUNCTOR_BIND_MEMBER(&AP_Scripting::thread, void),
                                       "Scripting", SCRIPTING_STACK_SIZE, AP_HAL::Scheduler::PRIORITY_SCRIPTING, 0)) {
         gcs().send_text(MAV_SEVERITY_CRITICAL, "Could not create scripting stack (%d)", SCRIPTING_STACK_SIZE);
+        gcs().send_text(MAV_SEVERITY_ERROR, "Scripting failed to start");
         _init_failed = true;
-        return false;
     }
-
-    return true;
 }
 
 void AP_Scripting::thread(void) {
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.h b/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.h
index ee2e1a9d0a..d418d865b8 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public:
     AP_Scripting(const AP_Scripting &other) = delete;
     AP_Scripting &operator=(const AP_Scripting&) = delete;
 
-    bool init(void);
+    void init(void);
     bool init_failed(void) const { return _init_failed; }
 
     bool enabled(void) const { return _enable != 0; };