diff --git a/security/smack/smack_access.c b/security/smack/smack_access.c
index 53f2327..6a0377f 100644
--- a/security/smack/smack_access.c
+++ b/security/smack/smack_access.c
@@ -403,6 +403,8 @@
 	sap->flags |= NETLBL_SECATTR_MLS_CAT;
 	sap->attr.mls.lvl = level;
 	sap->attr.mls.cat = netlbl_secattr_catmap_alloc(GFP_ATOMIC);
+	if (!sap->attr.mls.cat)
+		return -ENOMEM;
 	sap->attr.mls.cat->startbit = 0;
 
 	for (cat = 1, cp = catset, byte = 0; byte < len; cp++, byte++)