diff --git a/ggml.c b/ggml.c
index 535c7b7d281dd..aec75dd64571f 100644
--- a/ggml.c
+++ b/ggml.c
@@ -2447,6 +2447,16 @@ struct ggml_context * ggml_init(struct ggml_init_params params) {
         /*.scratch_save     =*/ { 0, 0, NULL, },
     };
 
+    if (ctx->mem_buffer == NULL) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "%s: failed to allocate memory buffer of size %zu\n", __func__, params.mem_size);
+
+        GGML_PRINT_DEBUG("%s: failed to allocate memory buffer\n", __func__);
+
+        ggml_critical_section_end();
+
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
     ggml_assert_aligned(ctx->mem_buffer);
 
     GGML_PRINT_DEBUG("%s: context initialized\n", __func__);