diff --git a/src/fart/Engine.cpp b/src/fart/Engine.cpp
index efca85a..0e7492e 100644
--- a/src/fart/Engine.cpp
+++ b/src/fart/Engine.cpp
@@ -21,5 +21,12 @@ int Engine::run(string_view input_file, opt<string_view> output_file)
         }
         output_path = string(base) + ".png";
     }
+
+    image_writer.reset(ImageWriter::build(output_path));
+    if (!image_writer)
+    {
+        return 1;
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/fart/Engine.h b/src/fart/Engine.h
index a394f06..951469c 100644
--- a/src/fart/Engine.h
+++ b/src/fart/Engine.h
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <fart/ImageWriter.h>
 #include <fart/RenderParams.h>
+#include <memory>
 
 class Engine
 {
@@ -10,4 +12,5 @@ public:
 
 protected:
     RenderParams params;
+    std::unique_ptr<ImageWriter> image_writer;
 };