diff --git a/crypto/conf/conf_def.c b/crypto/conf/conf_def.c
index e3ffeb21e..faca9aeb5 100644
--- a/crypto/conf/conf_def.c
+++ b/crypto/conf/conf_def.c
@@ -585,7 +585,11 @@ static int str_copy(CONF *conf, char *section, char **pto, char *from)
                 CONFerr(CONF_F_STR_COPY, CONF_R_VARIABLE_HAS_NO_VALUE);
                 goto err;
             }
-            BUF_MEM_grow_clean(buf, (strlen(p) + buf->length - (e - from)));
+            if (!BUF_MEM_grow_clean(buf,
+                        (strlen(p) + buf->length - (e - from)))) {
+                CONFerr(CONF_F_STR_COPY, ERR_R_MALLOC_FAILURE);
+                goto err;
+            }
             while (*p)
                 buf->data[to++] = *(p++);