diff --git a/include/nativebridge/native_bridge.h b/include/nativebridge/native_bridge.h
index 26556f0..45266de 100644
--- a/include/nativebridge/native_bridge.h
+++ b/include/nativebridge/native_bridge.h
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
 
 // Get last error message of native bridge when fail to load library or search symbol.
 // This is reflection of dlerror() for native bridge.
-char* NativeBridgeGetError();
+const char* NativeBridgeGetError();
 
 struct native_bridge_namespace_t;
 
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@
   // Returns:
   //   A string describing the most recent error that occurred when load library
   //   or lookup symbol via native bridge.
-  char* (*getError)();
+  const char* (*getError)();
 
   // Check whether library paths are supported by native bridge.
   //
diff --git a/libnativebridge/native_bridge.cc b/libnativebridge/native_bridge.cc
index 43e6c0a..eafc53d 100644
--- a/libnativebridge/native_bridge.cc
+++ b/libnativebridge/native_bridge.cc
@@ -551,15 +551,15 @@
   return -1;
 }
 
-char* NativeBridgeGetError() {
+const char* NativeBridgeGetError() {
   if (NativeBridgeInitialized()) {
     if (isCompatibleWith(NAMESPACE_VERSION)) {
       return callbacks->getError();
     } else {
-      ALOGE("not compatible with version %d, cannot get message", NAMESPACE_VERSION);
+      return "native bridge implementation is not compatible with version 3, cannot get message";
     }
   }
-  return nullptr;
+  return "native bridge is not initialized";
 }
 
 bool NativeBridgeIsPathSupported(const char* path) {
diff --git a/libnativebridge/tests/DummyNativeBridge3.cpp b/libnativebridge/tests/DummyNativeBridge3.cpp
index c538fa0..13fce85 100644
--- a/libnativebridge/tests/DummyNativeBridge3.cpp
+++ b/libnativebridge/tests/DummyNativeBridge3.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
   return 0;
 }
 
-extern "C" char* native_bridge3_getError() {
+extern "C" const char* native_bridge3_getError() {
   return nullptr;
 }
 
diff --git a/libnativeloader/native_loader.cpp b/libnativeloader/native_loader.cpp
index e09cce3..15fe054 100644
--- a/libnativeloader/native_loader.cpp
+++ b/libnativeloader/native_loader.cpp
@@ -308,13 +308,17 @@
     // code is one example) unknown to linker in which  case linker uses anonymous
     // namespace. The second argument specifies the search path for the anonymous
     // namespace which is the library_path of the classloader.
-    if (!is_native_bridge) {
-      initialized_ = android_init_namespaces(public_libraries_.c_str(), library_path);
-      if (!initialized_) {
-        *error_msg = dlerror();
-      }
-    } else {
-      initialized_ = NativeBridgeInitNamespace(public_libraries_.c_str(), library_path);
+    initialized_ = android_init_namespaces(public_libraries_.c_str(),
+                                           is_native_bridge ? nullptr : library_path);
+    if (!initialized_) {
+      *error_msg = dlerror();
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    // and now initialize native bridge namespaces if necessary.
+    if (NativeBridgeInitialized()) {
+      initialized_ = NativeBridgeInitNamespace(public_libraries_.c_str(),
+                                               is_native_bridge ? library_path : nullptr);
       if (!initialized_) {
         *error_msg = NativeBridgeGetError();
       }