diff --git a/test/test-ratelim.c b/test/test-ratelim.c
index 81c4afb5..0d8278aa 100644
--- a/test/test-ratelim.c
+++ b/test/test-ratelim.c
@@ -287,10 +287,18 @@ test_ratelimiting(void)
 
 	base = event_base_new_with_config(base_cfg);
 	event_config_free(base_cfg);
+	if (! base) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't create event_base");
+		return 1;
+	}
 
 	listener = evconnlistener_new_bind(base, echo_listenercb, base,
 	    LEV_OPT_CLOSE_ON_FREE|LEV_OPT_REUSEABLE, -1,
 	    (struct sockaddr *)&sin, sizeof(sin));
+	if (! listener) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't create listener");
+		return 1;
+	}
 
 	slen = sizeof(ss);
 	if (getsockname(evconnlistener_get_fd(listener), (struct sockaddr *)&ss,