diff --git a/json_util.c b/json_util.c
index acdc8c2..46274bf 100644
--- a/json_util.c
+++ b/json_util.c
@@ -71,7 +71,12 @@ struct fjson_object* fjson_object_from_fd(int fd)
 		return NULL;
 	}
 	while((ret = read(fd, buf, FJSON_FILE_BUF_SIZE)) > 0) {
-		printbuf_memappend(pb, buf, ret);
+		if(printbuf_memappend(pb, buf, ret) < 0) {
+			/* do not silently parse truncated input on OOM */
+			MC_ERROR("fjson_object_from_fd: printbuf_memappend failed\n");
+			printbuf_free(pb);
+			return NULL;
+		}
 	}
 	if(ret < 0) {
 		MC_ERROR("fjson_object_from_fd: error reading fd %d: %s\n", fd, strerror(errno));