diff --git a/layout-custom.c b/layout-custom.c
index 0dc1abc1..0fc3f5d1 100644
--- a/layout-custom.c
+++ b/layout-custom.c
@@ -379,6 +379,8 @@ layout_construct(struct layout_cell *lcparent, const char **layout,
 	struct layout_cell	*lcchild;
 
 	*lc = layout_construct_cell(lcparent, layout);
+	if (*lc == NULL)
+		return (-1);
 
 	switch (**layout) {
 	case ',':