diff --git a/drivers/bh1750fvi/bh1750fvi.c b/drivers/bh1750fvi/bh1750fvi.c
index 2cba4f83d0..7f063a5b1a 100644
--- a/drivers/bh1750fvi/bh1750fvi.c
+++ b/drivers/bh1750fvi/bh1750fvi.c
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@
 #include "bh1750fvi.h"
 #include "bh1750fvi_internal.h"
 
+#define ENABLE_DEBUG        (0)
+#include "debug.h"
+
 int bh1750fvi_init(bh1750fvi_t *dev, bh1750fvi_params_t *params)
 {
     int res;
@@ -41,9 +44,9 @@ int bh1750fvi_init(bh1750fvi_t *dev, bh1750fvi_params_t *params)
     res = i2c_write_byte(dev->i2c, dev->addr, OP_POWER_DOWN);
     i2c_release(dev->i2c);
     if (res < 0) {
-        return -1;
+        return BH1750FVI_ERR_I2C;
     }
-    return 0;
+    return BH1750FVI_OK;
 }
 
 uint16_t bh1750fvi_sample(bh1750fvi_t *dev)
@@ -52,6 +55,7 @@ uint16_t bh1750fvi_sample(bh1750fvi_t *dev)
     uint8_t raw[2];
 
     /* power on the device and send single H-mode measurement command */
+    DEBUG("[bh1750fvi] sample: triggering a conversion\n");
     i2c_acquire(dev->i2c);
     i2c_write_byte(dev->i2c, dev->addr, OP_POWER_ON);
     i2c_write_byte(dev->i2c, dev->addr, OP_SINGLE_HRES1);
@@ -61,6 +65,7 @@ uint16_t bh1750fvi_sample(bh1750fvi_t *dev)
     xtimer_usleep(DELAY_HMODE);
 
     /* read the results */
+    DEBUG("[bh1750fvi] sample: reading the results\n");
     i2c_acquire(dev->i2c);
     i2c_read_bytes(dev->i2c, dev->addr, raw, 2);
     i2c_release(dev->i2c);
diff --git a/drivers/include/bh1750fvi.h b/drivers/include/bh1750fvi.h
index d46172988f..690ab60780 100644
--- a/drivers/include/bh1750fvi.h
+++ b/drivers/include/bh1750fvi.h
@@ -48,6 +48,14 @@ extern "C" {
  */
 #define BH1750FVI_I2C_MAX_CLK           I2C_SPEED_FAST
 
+/**
+ * @brief   Status and error return codes
+ */
+enum {
+    BH1750FVI_OK      =  0,     /**< everything was fine */
+    BH1750FVI_ERR_I2C = -1      /**< error initializing the I2C bus */
+};
+
 /**
  * @brief   Device descriptor for BH1570FVI devices
  */
diff --git a/tests/driver_bh1750/main.c b/tests/driver_bh1750/main.c
index 0c276aa6bc..84448a582d 100644
--- a/tests/driver_bh1750/main.c
+++ b/tests/driver_bh1750/main.c
@@ -28,13 +28,18 @@
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    int res;
     bh1750fvi_t dev;
     uint32_t last = xtimer_now();
 
     puts("BH1750FVI ambient light sensor test\n");
 
     /* initialize the device */
-    bh1750fvi_init(&dev, (bh1750fvi_params_t *)(&bh1750fvi_params));
+    res = bh1750fvi_init(&dev, (bh1750fvi_params_t *)(&bh1750fvi_params));
+    if (res != BH1750FVI_OK) {
+        puts("error: unable to initialize sensor [I2C initialization error]");
+        return 1;
+    }
 
     /* periodically sample the sensor */
     while(1) {