diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
index 850cceaa26..9900b411f8 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
@@ -8057,6 +8057,11 @@ qemuBuildCommandLine(virConnectPtr conn,
         if (boot_nparams > 0) {
             virCommandAddArg(cmd, "-boot");
 
+            if (virBufferError(&boot_buf)) {
+                virReportOOMError();
+                goto error;
+            }
+
             if (boot_nparams < 2 || emitBootindex) {
                 virCommandAddArgBuffer(cmd, &boot_buf);
                 virBufferFreeAndReset(&boot_buf);