diff --git a/converter/other/svgtopam.c b/converter/other/svgtopam.c
index ca6f4dc..1d4081a 100644
--- a/converter/other/svgtopam.c
+++ b/converter/other/svgtopam.c
@@ -784,12 +784,17 @@ createCanvas(unsigned int const width,
 
     MALLOCVAR_NOFAIL(canvasP);
 
-    canvasP->width  = width;
-    canvasP->height = height;
-    canvasP->pixels = ppm_allocarray(width, height);
-    canvasP->maxval = maxval;
+    if(canvasP != NULL){
+        canvasP->width  = width;
+        canvasP->height = height;
+        canvasP->pixels = ppm_allocarray(width, height);
+        canvasP->maxval = maxval;
+
+        *canvasPP = canvasP;
+    } else {
+       pm_error("can't allocate memory for canvas");
+    }
 
-    *canvasPP = canvasP;
 }