diff --git a/src/locking/lock_daemon.c b/src/locking/lock_daemon.c
index f0eba48425..97e5d749c2 100644
--- a/src/locking/lock_daemon.c
+++ b/src/locking/lock_daemon.c
@@ -1311,19 +1311,16 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
     /* Ensure the rundir exists (on tmpfs on some systems) */
     if (privileged) {
-        run_dir = strdup(LOCALSTATEDIR "/run/libvirt");
+        if (!(run_dir = strdup(LOCALSTATEDIR "/run/libvirt"))) {
+            virReportOOMError();
+            goto cleanup;
+        }
     } else {
-        run_dir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory();
-
-        if (!run_dir) {
+        if (!(run_dir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory())) {
             VIR_ERROR(_("Can't determine user directory"));
             goto cleanup;
         }
     }
-    if (!run_dir) {
-        virReportOOMError();
-        goto cleanup;
-    }
 
     if (privileged)
         old_umask = umask(022);