diff --git a/clients/desktop-shell.c b/clients/desktop-shell.c
index 0605f844..fbc0604c 100644
--- a/clients/desktop-shell.c
+++ b/clients/desktop-shell.c
@@ -302,7 +302,8 @@ clock_func(struct task *task, uint32_t events)
 		container_of(task, struct panel_clock, clock_task);
 	uint64_t exp;
 
-	read(clock->clock_fd, &exp, sizeof exp);
+	if (read(clock->clock_fd, &exp, sizeof exp) != sizeof exp)
+		abort();
 	widget_schedule_redraw(clock->widget);
 }
 
diff --git a/clients/window.c b/clients/window.c
index f81d06f2..92f3fd58 100644
--- a/clients/window.c
+++ b/clients/window.c
@@ -1170,7 +1170,8 @@ tooltip_func(struct task *task, uint32_t events)
 		container_of(task, struct tooltip, tooltip_task);
 	uint64_t exp;
 
-	read(tooltip->tooltip_fd, &exp, sizeof (uint64_t));
+	if (read(tooltip->tooltip_fd, &exp, sizeof (uint64_t)) != sizeof (uint64_t))
+		abort();
 	window_create_tooltip(tooltip);
 }