diff --git a/src/qpack-tbl.c b/src/qpack-tbl.c
index 7c59fd2f7..e069464f5 100644
--- a/src/qpack-tbl.c
+++ b/src/qpack-tbl.c
@@ -394,6 +394,9 @@ int qpack_dht_insert(struct qpack_dht *dht, struct ist name, struct ist value)
 	else {
 		/* need to defragment the table before inserting upfront */
 		dht = qpack_dht_defrag(dht);
+		if (!dht)
+			return -1;
+
 		wrap = dht->wrap + 1;
 		head = dht->head + 1;
 		dht->dte[head].addr = dht->dte[dht->front].addr - (name.len + value.len);