diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
index 3f9fece97..da924d239 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_backup.go
@@ -556,8 +556,8 @@ func runBackup(opts BackupOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, term *termstatus.Termina
 
 	var targetFS fs.FS = fs.Local{}
 	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" && opts.UseFsSnapshot {
-		if !fs.HasSufficientPrivilegesForVSS() {
-			return errors.Fatal("user doesn't have sufficient privileges to use VSS snapshots\n")
+		if err = fs.HasSufficientPrivilegesForVSS(); err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
 
 		errorHandler := func(item string, err error) error {
diff --git a/cmd/restic/integration_test.go b/cmd/restic/integration_test.go
index 9c01939ec..66a129598 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/integration_test.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/integration_test.go
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ func TestBackup(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBackupWithFilesystemSnapshots(t *testing.T) {
-	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" && fs.HasSufficientPrivilegesForVSS() {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" && fs.HasSufficientPrivilegesForVSS() == nil {
 		testBackup(t, true)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/fs/vss.go b/internal/fs/vss.go
index a515d75b2..ca0604906 100644
--- a/internal/fs/vss.go
+++ b/internal/fs/vss.go
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ type VssSnapshot struct {
 }
 
 // HasSufficientPrivilegesForVSS returns true if the user is allowed to use VSS.
-func HasSufficientPrivilegesForVSS() bool {
-	return false
+func HasSufficientPrivilegesForVSS() error {
+	return errors.New("VSS snapshots are only supported on windows")
 }
 
 // NewVssSnapshot creates a new vss snapshot. If creating the snapshots doesn't
diff --git a/internal/fs/vss_windows.go b/internal/fs/vss_windows.go
index b63ad4cd8..e24dade80 100644
--- a/internal/fs/vss_windows.go
+++ b/internal/fs/vss_windows.go
@@ -686,10 +686,10 @@ func (p *VssSnapshot) GetSnapshotDeviceObject() string {
 }
 
 // initializeCOMInterface initialize an instance of the VSS COM api
-func initializeVssCOMInterface() (*ole.IUnknown, uintptr, error) {
+func initializeVssCOMInterface() (*ole.IUnknown, error) {
 	vssInstance, err := loadIVssBackupComponentsConstructor()
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, 0, err
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	// ensure COM is initialized before use
@@ -697,22 +697,33 @@ func initializeVssCOMInterface() (*ole.IUnknown, uintptr, error) {
 
 	var oleIUnknown *ole.IUnknown
 	result, _, _ := vssInstance.Call(uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&oleIUnknown)))
+	hresult := HRESULT(result)
 
-	return oleIUnknown, result, nil
+	switch hresult {
+	case S_OK:
+	case E_ACCESSDENIED:
+		return oleIUnknown, newVssError(
+			"The caller does not have sufficient backup privileges or is not an administrator",
+			hresult)
+	default:
+		return oleIUnknown, newVssError("Failed to create VSS instance", hresult)
+	}
+
+	if oleIUnknown == nil {
+		return nil, newVssError("Failed to initialize COM interface", hresult)
+	}
+
+	return oleIUnknown, nil
 }
 
-// HasSufficientPrivilegesForVSS returns true if the user is allowed to use VSS.
-func HasSufficientPrivilegesForVSS() bool {
-	oleIUnknown, result, err := initializeVssCOMInterface()
+// HasSufficientPrivilegesForVSS returns nil if the user is allowed to use VSS.
+func HasSufficientPrivilegesForVSS() error {
+	oleIUnknown, err := initializeVssCOMInterface()
 	if oleIUnknown != nil {
 		oleIUnknown.Release()
 	}
 
-	if err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	return !(HRESULT(result) == E_ACCESSDENIED)
+	return err
 }
 
 // NewVssSnapshot creates a new vss snapshot. If creating the snapshots doesn't
@@ -734,24 +745,12 @@ func NewVssSnapshot(
 
 	timeoutInMillis := uint32(timeoutInSeconds * 1000)
 
-	oleIUnknown, result, err := initializeVssCOMInterface()
-	if err != nil {
-		if oleIUnknown != nil {
-			oleIUnknown.Release()
-		}
-		return VssSnapshot{}, err
+	oleIUnknown, err := initializeVssCOMInterface()
+	if oleIUnknown != nil {
+		defer oleIUnknown.Release()
 	}
-	defer oleIUnknown.Release()
-
-	switch HRESULT(result) {
-	case S_OK:
-	case E_ACCESSDENIED:
-		return VssSnapshot{}, newVssTextError(fmt.Sprintf("%s (%#x) The caller does not have "+
-			"sufficient backup privileges or is not an administrator.", HRESULT(result).Str(),
-			result))
-	default:
-		return VssSnapshot{}, newVssTextError(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to create VSS instance: %s (%#x)",
-			HRESULT(result).Str(), result))
+	if err != nil {
+		return VssSnapshot{}, err
 	}
 
 	comInterface, err := queryInterface(oleIUnknown, UUID_IVSS)