diff --git a/qga/commands-win32.c b/qga/commands-win32.c
index 9c744d6405..b49920e201 100644
--- a/qga/commands-win32.c
+++ b/qga/commands-win32.c
@@ -343,7 +343,13 @@ GuestFileRead *qmp_guest_file_read(int64_t handle, bool has_count,
     }
 
     fh = gfh->fh;
-    buf = g_malloc0(count+1);
+    buf = g_try_malloc0(count + 1);
+    if (!buf) {
+        error_setg(errp,
+                   "failed to allocate sufficient memory "
+                   "to complete the requested service");
+        return NULL;
+    }
     is_ok = ReadFile(fh, buf, count, &read_count, NULL);
     if (!is_ok) {
         error_setg_win32(errp, GetLastError(), "failed to read file");