diff --git a/loc_api/libloc_api_50001/gps.c b/loc_api/libloc_api_50001/gps.c
index 82bc7420..b0669af2 100644
--- a/loc_api/libloc_api_50001/gps.c
+++ b/loc_api/libloc_api_50001/gps.c
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ static int open_gps(const struct hw_module_t* module, char const* name,
         struct hw_device_t** device)
 {
     struct gps_device_t *dev = (struct gps_device_t *) malloc(sizeof(struct gps_device_t));
+
+    if(dev == NULL)
+        return -1;
+
     memset(dev, 0, sizeof(*dev));
 
     dev->common.tag = HARDWARE_DEVICE_TAG;