diff --git a/tools/eeprom.c b/tools/eeprom.c
index 399058ed..d8fceaa5 100644
--- a/tools/eeprom.c
+++ b/tools/eeprom.c
@@ -220,10 +220,14 @@ mt76_eeprom_changes(void)
 	}
 
 	buf = malloc(EEPROM_PART_SIZE);
+	if (!buf)
+		return EXIT_FAILURE;
 	fseek(f, mtd_offset, SEEK_SET);
 	ret = fread(buf, 1, EEPROM_PART_SIZE, f);
-	if (ret != EEPROM_PART_SIZE)
+	if (ret != EEPROM_PART_SIZE) {
+		free(buf);
 		return EXIT_FAILURE;
+	}
 	for (i = 0; i < EEPROM_PART_SIZE; i++) {
 		if (buf[i] == eeprom_data[i])
 			continue;