diff --git a/drivers/scsi/sr_ioctl.c b/drivers/scsi/sr_ioctl.c
index 3471be0..82d68fd 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/sr_ioctl.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/sr_ioctl.c
@@ -281,6 +281,9 @@
 	char *buffer = kmalloc(32, GFP_KERNEL | SR_GFP_DMA(cd));
 	int result;
 
+	if (!buffer)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
 	memset(&cgc, 0, sizeof(struct packet_command));
 	cgc.cmd[0] = GPCMD_READ_SUBCHANNEL;
 	cgc.cmd[2] = 0x40;	/* I do want the subchannel info */