diff --git a/os/ex/devices/ST/lis302dl.c b/os/ex/devices/ST/lis302dl.c
index 4ee84b4d7..2feb9cadd 100644
--- a/os/ex/devices/ST/lis302dl.c
+++ b/os/ex/devices/ST/lis302dl.c
@@ -441,8 +441,9 @@ void lis302dlObjectInit(LIS302DLDriver *devp) {
  *
  * @api
  */
-void lis302dlStart(LIS302DLDriver *devp, const LIS302DLConfig *config) {
+msg_t lis302dlStart(LIS302DLDriver *devp, const LIS302DLConfig *config) {
   uint32_t i;
+  uint8_t devid;
   uint8_t cr[2] = {0, 0};
   osalDbgCheck((devp != NULL) && (config != NULL));
 
@@ -451,6 +452,23 @@ void lis302dlStart(LIS302DLDriver *devp, const LIS302DLConfig *config) {
 
   devp->config = config;
 
+#if LIS302DL_USE_SPI
+#if LIS302DL_SHARED_SPI
+  spiAcquireBus((devp)->config->spip);
+#endif /* LIS302DL_SHARED_SPI */
+  spiStart((devp)->config->spip, (devp)->config->spicfg);
+
+  /* Check WHO_I_AM */
+  lis302dlSPIReadRegister(devp->config->spip, LIS302DL_AD_WHO_AM_I,
+                          1, &devid);
+  if (devid != 0x3b)
+  {
+#if LIS302DL_SHARED_SPI
+    spiReleaseBus((devp)->config->spip);
+#endif /* LIS302DL_SHARED_SPI */
+    return MSG_RESET;
+  }
+
   /* Control register 1 configuration block.*/
   {
     cr[0] = LIS302DL_CTRL_REG1_XEN | LIS302DL_CTRL_REG1_YEN |
@@ -467,12 +485,6 @@ void lis302dlStart(LIS302DLDriver *devp, const LIS302DLConfig *config) {
 #endif
   }
 
-#if LIS302DL_USE_SPI
-#if LIS302DL_SHARED_SPI
-  spiAcquireBus((devp)->config->spip);
-#endif /* LIS302DL_SHARED_SPI */
-  spiStart((devp)->config->spip, (devp)->config->spicfg);
-
   lis302dlSPIWriteRegister(devp->config->spip, LIS302DL_AD_CTRL_REG1,
                            2, cr);
 
@@ -516,6 +528,8 @@ void lis302dlStart(LIS302DLDriver *devp, const LIS302DLConfig *config) {
   osalThreadSleepMilliseconds(10);
 
   devp->state = LIS302DL_READY;
+
+  return MSG_OK;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/os/ex/devices/ST/lis302dl.h b/os/ex/devices/ST/lis302dl.h
index 3c662f457..21b1894bd 100644
--- a/os/ex/devices/ST/lis302dl.h
+++ b/os/ex/devices/ST/lis302dl.h
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ struct LIS302DLDriver {
 extern "C" {
 #endif
   void lis302dlObjectInit(LIS302DLDriver *devp);
-  void lis302dlStart(LIS302DLDriver *devp, const LIS302DLConfig *config);
+  msg_t lis302dlStart(LIS302DLDriver *devp, const LIS302DLConfig *config);
   void lis302dlStop(LIS302DLDriver *devp);
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }