diff --git a/src/cairo-directfb-surface.c b/src/cairo-directfb-surface.c
index 6807589b5..d8ca9b837 100644
--- a/src/cairo-directfb-surface.c
+++ b/src/cairo-directfb-surface.c
@@ -405,6 +405,7 @@ _directfb_acquire_surface (cairo_directfb_surface_t  *surface,
 
     if (buffer->Lock (buffer, lock_flags, &data, &pitch)) {
         D_DEBUG_AT (CairoDFB_Acquire, "Couldn't lock surface!\n");
+	status = _cairo_error (CAIRO_STATUS_NO_MEMORY);
         goto ERROR;
     }