A photoacoustic measurement apparatus includes: a main light source； a sub-light source； a light guide member that guides the light which has been emitted from the main light source and the sub-light source and has been incident on a base end to a leading end； an insert of which at least a leading end portion is inserted into a subject and which includes at least the leading end of the light guide member and a light absorption member that absorbs the pulsed laser light, and generates photoacoustic waves； and a photoacoustic wave detection unit that detects the photoacoustic waves. The photoacoustic measurement apparatus has, as an operation mode, a failure detection mode that drives the sub-light source and detects a failure of a photoacoustic wave generation unit including the light guide member and the light absorption member.
