diff --git a/core.c b/core.c
index 51eda38..fcc9279 100644
--- a/core.c
+++ b/core.c
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@
 	/* todo: pools */
 	buf = __mctp_alloc(sizeof(*buf) + size);
 
+	if (!buf)
+		return NULL;
+
 	buf->size = size;
 	buf->start = binding->pkt_header;
 	buf->end = buf->start + len;