diff --git a/doc/examples/decode_audio.c b/doc/examples/decode_audio.c
index bcb3d87a69..26ce07a552 100644
--- a/doc/examples/decode_audio.c
+++ b/doc/examples/decode_audio.c
@@ -128,6 +128,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     outfilename = argv[2];
 
     pkt = av_packet_alloc();
+    if (!pkt) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "Could not allocate AVPacket\n");
+        exit(1); /* or proper cleanup and returning */
+    }
 
     /* find the MPEG audio decoder */
     codec = avcodec_find_decoder(AV_CODEC_ID_MP2);
@@ -161,7 +165,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     }
     outfile = fopen(outfilename, "wb");
     if (!outfile) {
-        av_free(c);
+        fprintf(stderr, "Could not open %s\n", outfilename);
         exit(1);
     }