diff --git a/drivers/staging/pi433/pi433_if.c b/drivers/staging/pi433/pi433_if.c
index 786478671190..d72de2105053 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/pi433/pi433_if.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/pi433/pi433_if.c
@@ -1245,6 +1245,10 @@ static int pi433_probe(struct spi_device *spi)
 
 	/* create cdev */
 	device->cdev = cdev_alloc();
+	if (!device->cdev) {
+		dev_dbg(device->dev, "allocation of cdev failed");
+		goto cdev_failed;
+	}
 	device->cdev->owner = THIS_MODULE;
 	cdev_init(device->cdev, &pi433_fops);
 	retval = cdev_add(device->cdev, device->devt, 1);