diff --git a/examples/protocols/http_server/ws_echo_server/main/ws_echo_server.c b/examples/protocols/http_server/ws_echo_server/main/ws_echo_server.c
index c8789f73f3..a9823a4a30 100644
--- a/examples/protocols/http_server/ws_echo_server/main/ws_echo_server.c
+++ b/examples/protocols/http_server/ws_echo_server/main/ws_echo_server.c
@@ -55,9 +55,16 @@ static void ws_async_send(void *arg)
 static esp_err_t trigger_async_send(httpd_handle_t handle, httpd_req_t *req)
 {
     struct async_resp_arg *resp_arg = malloc(sizeof(struct async_resp_arg));
+    if (resp_arg == NULL) {
+        return ESP_ERR_NO_MEM;
+    }
     resp_arg->hd = req->handle;
     resp_arg->fd = httpd_req_to_sockfd(req);
-    return httpd_queue_work(handle, ws_async_send, resp_arg);
+    esp_err_t ret = httpd_queue_work(handle, ws_async_send, resp_arg);
+    if (ret != ESP_OK) {
+        free(resp_arg);
+    }
+    return ret;
 }
 
 /*