diff --git a/lib/vhost/rte_vhost/vhost_user.c b/lib/vhost/rte_vhost/vhost_user.c
index 7693af71d..cdf202a7a 100644
--- a/lib/vhost/rte_vhost/vhost_user.c
+++ b/lib/vhost/rte_vhost/vhost_user.c
@@ -410,6 +410,10 @@ add_one_guest_page(struct virtio_net *dev, uint64_t guest_phys_addr,
 		dev->max_guest_pages *= 2;
 		dev->guest_pages = realloc(dev->guest_pages,
 					dev->max_guest_pages * sizeof(*page));
+		if (!dev->guest_pages) {
+			RTE_LOG(ERR, VHOST_CONFIG, "cannot realloc guest_pages\n");
+			abort();
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (dev->nr_guest_pages > 0) {