diff --git a/mm/sparse.c b/mm/sparse.c
index e06f514..d245e590 100644
--- a/mm/sparse.c
+++ b/mm/sparse.c
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@
 		return -EEXIST;
 
 	section = sparse_index_alloc(nid);
+	if (!section)
+		return -ENOMEM;
 	/*
 	 * This lock keeps two different sections from
 	 * reallocating for the same index