diff --git a/src/pam.c b/src/pam.c
index ada4e3e..8e2641d 100644
--- a/src/pam.c
+++ b/src/pam.c
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ int pam_sm_authenticate(pam_handle_t *pamh, int flags,
 	if (argc > 1)
 		if (!strcmp(argv[0], "-c"))
 			conf_file = (char *)argv[1];
-	pusb_conf_init(&opts);
+	if (!pusb_conf_init(&opts))
+		return (PAM_AUTH_ERR);
 	if (!pusb_conf_parse(conf_file, &opts, user, service))
 		return (PAM_AUTH_ERR);
 
diff --git a/src/pamusb-check.c b/src/pamusb-check.c
index b8b8e0b..30a449b 100644
--- a/src/pamusb-check.c
+++ b/src/pamusb-check.c
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		pusb_check_usage(argv[0]);
 		return (1);
 	}
-	pusb_conf_init(&opts);
+	if (!pusb_conf_init(&opts))
+		return (1);
 	if (!pusb_conf_parse(conf_file, &opts, user, service))
 		return (1);
 	if (quiet)