diff --git a/cadical/src/lib.rs b/cadical/src/lib.rs
index b5408cd8..d0c88651 100644
--- a/cadical/src/lib.rs
+++ b/cadical/src/lib.rs
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ unsafe impl Send for CaDiCaL<'_, '_> {}
 
 impl Default for CaDiCaL<'_, '_> {
     fn default() -> Self {
+        let handle = unsafe { ffi::ccadical_init() };
+        if handle.is_null() {
+            panic!("not enough memory to initialize CaDiCaL solver")
+        }
         let solver = Self {
             handle: unsafe { ffi::ccadical_init() },
             state: Default::default(),