diff --git a/src/pdr.c b/src/pdr.c
index 657612d..763fa72 100644
--- a/src/pdr.c
+++ b/src/pdr.c
@@ -117,7 +117,9 @@
 pldm_pdr *pldm_pdr_init(void)
 {
 	pldm_pdr *repo = malloc(sizeof(pldm_pdr));
-	assert(repo != NULL);
+	if (!repo) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
 	repo->record_count = 0;
 	repo->size = 0;
 	repo->first = NULL;