diff --git a/xla/python/nb_numpy.cc b/xla/python/nb_numpy.cc
index 4caf5238c4f29..9c678530cbf26 100644
--- a/xla/python/nb_numpy.cc
+++ b/xla/python/nb_numpy.cc
@@ -71,8 +71,10 @@ nb_numpy_ndarray::nb_numpy_ndarray(
   }
   if (ptr) {
     if (base) {
-      PyArray_SetBaseObject(reinterpret_cast<PyArrayObject*>(array.ptr()),
-                            base.inc_ref().ptr());
+      if (PyArray_SetBaseObject(reinterpret_cast<PyArrayObject*>(array.ptr()),
+                                base.inc_ref().ptr()) < 0) {
+        throw nb::python_error();
+      }
     } else {
       array = nb::steal<nb::object>(PyArray_NewCopy(
           reinterpret_cast<PyArrayObject*>(array.ptr()), NPY_ANYORDER));