diff --git a/arch/alpha/kernel/module.c b/arch/alpha/kernel/module.c
index 026ba9a..ebc3c89 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/module.c
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/module.c
@@ -120,6 +120,12 @@ module_frob_arch_sections(Elf64_Ehdr *hdr, Elf64_Shdr *sechdrs,
 
 	nsyms = symtab->sh_size / sizeof(Elf64_Sym);
 	chains = kcalloc(nsyms, sizeof(struct got_entry), GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (!chains) {
+		printk(KERN_ERR
+		       "module %s: no memory for symbol chain buffer\n",
+		       me->name);
+		return -ENOMEM;
+	}
 
 	got->sh_size = 0;
 	got->sh_addralign = 8;