diff --git a/coders/bmp.c b/coders/bmp.c
index e0724252ae2..d49a52b9f9f 100644
--- a/coders/bmp.c
+++ b/coders/bmp.c
@@ -2314,7 +2314,10 @@ static MagickBooleanType WriteBMPImage(const ImageInfo *image_info,Image *image,
         bmp_colormap=(unsigned char *) AcquireQuantumMemory((size_t) (1UL <<
           bmp_info.bits_per_pixel),4*sizeof(*bmp_colormap));
         if (bmp_colormap == (unsigned char *) NULL)
-          ThrowWriterException(ResourceLimitError,"MemoryAllocationFailed");
+          {
+            pixel_info=RelinquishVirtualMemory(pixel_info);
+            ThrowWriterException(ResourceLimitError,"MemoryAllocationFailed");
+          }
         q=bmp_colormap;
         for (i=0; i < (ssize_t) MagickMin((ssize_t) image->colors,(ssize_t) bmp_info.number_colors); i++)
         {