diff --git a/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c b/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c
index 414274fdfd..7580c6a06c 100644
--- a/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c
+++ b/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c
@@ -1534,7 +1534,8 @@ hypervDomainDefParseSerial(virDomainDef *def, Msvm_ResourceAllocationSettingData
             continue;
         }
 
-        serial = virDomainChrDefNew(NULL);
+        if (!(serial = virDomainChrDefNew(NULL)))
+            return -1;
 
         serial->deviceType = VIR_DOMAIN_CHR_DEVICE_TYPE_SERIAL;
         serial->source->type = VIR_DOMAIN_CHR_TYPE_PIPE;