diff --git a/src/sftpserver.c b/src/sftpserver.c
index 5a2110e5..b639a2ce 100644
--- a/src/sftpserver.c
+++ b/src/sftpserver.c
@@ -67,6 +67,12 @@ sftp_client_message sftp_get_client_message(sftp_session sftp) {
 
   /* take a copy of the whole packet */
   msg->complete_message = ssh_buffer_new();
+  if (msg->complete_message == NULL) {
+      ssh_set_error_oom(session);
+      sftp_client_message_free(msg);
+      return NULL;
+  }
+
   ssh_buffer_add_data(msg->complete_message,
                       ssh_buffer_get(payload),
                       ssh_buffer_get_len(payload));