diff --git a/src/util-memfile.c b/src/util-memfile.c
index ea55c46..6f5e334 100644
--- a/src/util-memfile.c
+++ b/src/util-memfile.c
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ memfile_new(const char *data, size_t sz)
 	if (fd < 0)
 		return NULL;
 
-	fcntl(fd, F_ADD_SEALS, F_SEAL_SHRINK);
+	if (fcntl(fd, F_ADD_SEALS, F_SEAL_SHRINK) < 0)
+		return NULL;
 
 	int rc;
 	with_signals_blocked(SIGALRM)