diff --git a/src/tool_operate.c b/src/tool_operate.c
index 968dc864f9..71d29af8d8 100644
--- a/src/tool_operate.c
+++ b/src/tool_operate.c
@@ -848,6 +848,8 @@ static CURLcode append2query(struct OperationConfig *config,
     }
     curl_url_cleanup(uh);
   }
+  else
+    result = CURLE_OUT_OF_MEMORY;
   return result;
 }