diff --git a/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c b/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c
index 65303664417e..6ebf2b215ef4 100644
--- a/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c
+++ b/tools/bpf/bpftool/common.c
@@ -221,6 +221,11 @@ int mount_bpffs_for_pin(const char *name)
 	int err = 0;
 
 	file = malloc(strlen(name) + 1);
+	if (!file) {
+		p_err("mem alloc failed");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	strcpy(file, name);
 	dir = dirname(file);