diff --git a/drivers/media/v4l2-core/v4l2-h264.c b/drivers/media/v4l2-core/v4l2-h264.c
index 72bd64f65198..c00197d095e7 100644
--- a/drivers/media/v4l2-core/v4l2-h264.c
+++ b/drivers/media/v4l2-core/v4l2-h264.c
@@ -305,6 +305,8 @@ static const char *format_ref_list_p(const struct v4l2_h264_reflist_builder *bui
 	int n = 0, i;
 
 	*out_str = kmalloc(tmp_str_size, GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (!(*out_str))
+		return NULL;
 
 	n += snprintf(*out_str + n, tmp_str_size - n, "|");
 
@@ -343,6 +345,8 @@ static const char *format_ref_list_b(const struct v4l2_h264_reflist_builder *bui
 	int n = 0, i;
 
 	*out_str = kmalloc(tmp_str_size, GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (!(*out_str))
+		return NULL;
 
 	n += snprintf(*out_str + n, tmp_str_size - n, "|");