diff --git a/src/checks.js b/src/checks.js
index 073bf50..7ddab1b 100644
--- a/src/checks.js
+++ b/src/checks.js
@@ -15,22 +15,26 @@ async function startCheck() {
 
   core.info("About to create check");
 
-  const response = await octokit.rest.checks.create({
-    owner,
-    repo,
-    name: title,
-    head_sha: sha,
-    status: "in_progress",
-    output: {
-      title,
-      summary: "",
-      text: "",
-    },
-  });
+  try {
 
-  core.info(response);
-  
-  CHECK_ID = response.data.id;
+    const response = await octokit.rest.checks.create({
+      owner,
+      repo,
+      name: title,
+      head_sha: sha,
+      status: "in_progress",
+      output: {
+        title,
+        summary: "",
+        text: "",
+      },
+    });
+
+    CHECK_ID = response.data.id;
+  }
+  catch (error) {
+    throw new Error("Error creating check. Ensure your workflow has the 'checks:write' permissions - https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-jobs/assigning-permissions-to-jobs")
+  }
 }
 
 function getOutputModel(details) {
@@ -44,6 +48,11 @@ async function finishCheck(details) {
   const { owner, repo } = github.context.repo;
   const { conclusion, report } = getOutputModel(details);
 
+  if (!CHECK_ID) {
+    core.warning("No active check to finish.");
+    return;
+  }
+
   await octokit.rest.checks.update({
     owner,
     repo,
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 8dbcca9..a43ecb5 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -25,14 +25,7 @@ async function runScan() {
 async function runScanWithChecks() {
   let scanDetails;
 
-  try {
-    core.info("Calling start check");
-
-    await startCheck();
-  }
-  catch (error) {
-    core.info(error);
-  }
+  await startCheck();  
 
   try {
     scanDetails = await runScan();