diff --git a/sys/dev/disk/iscsi/initiator/isc_soc.c b/sys/dev/disk/iscsi/initiator/isc_soc.c
--- a/sys/dev/disk/iscsi/initiator/isc_soc.c
+++ b/sys/dev/disk/iscsi/initiator/isc_soc.c
@@ -542,6 +542,10 @@
 	       debug(3, "out of pdus, wait");
 	       pq = pdu_alloc(sp->isc, M_NOWAIT);  // OK to WAIT
 	  }
+	  if(pq == NULL) {
+	       xdebug("pdu_alloc failed in so_input, dropping PDU");
+	       return ENOBUFS;
+	  }
 	  pq->pdu.ipdu.bhs = sp->bhs;
 	  pq->len = sizeof(bhs_t);	// so far only the header was read
 	  error = so_recv(sp, pq);