diff --git a/apps/smime.c b/apps/smime.c
index 88b0475d2d..b59e14b0b5 100644
--- a/apps/smime.c
+++ b/apps/smime.c
@@ -484,7 +484,8 @@ int smime_main(int argc, char **argv)
                              "recipient certificate file");
             if (cert == NULL)
                 goto end;
-            sk_X509_push(encerts, cert);
+            if (!sk_X509_push(encerts, cert))
+                goto end;
             cert = NULL;
             argv++;
         }