diff --git a/src/pdr.c b/src/pdr.c
index a58a2cc..be8b2fe 100644
--- a/src/pdr.c
+++ b/src/pdr.c
@@ -489,7 +489,9 @@
 {
 	pldm_entity_association_tree *tree =
 		malloc(sizeof(pldm_entity_association_tree));
-	assert(tree != NULL);
+	if (!tree) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
 	tree->root = NULL;
 	tree->last_used_container_id = 0;