diff --git a/src/util/sysinfo.c b/src/util/sysinfo.c
index fab4f061a1..6c06e3d7df 100644
--- a/src/util/sysinfo.c
+++ b/src/util/sysinfo.c
@@ -792,6 +792,11 @@ virSysinfoFormat(virSysinfoDefPtr def, const char *prefix)
 
     virBufferAsprintf(&buf, "%s</sysinfo>\n", prefix);
 
+    if (virBufferError(&buf)) {
+        virReportOOMError();
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
     return virBufferContentAndReset(&buf);
 }