diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ba8cfe5..03307d8 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-VERSION = git-20140206
+VERSION = git-20140207
 
 PREFIX    = /usr/local
 MANPREFIX = $(PREFIX)/share/man
diff --git a/image.c b/image.c
index 62b3c08..3eedf52 100644
--- a/image.c
+++ b/image.c
@@ -492,7 +492,8 @@ void img_render(img_t *img)
 	imlib_context_set_drawable(win->pm);
 
 	if (imlib_image_has_alpha()) {
-		bg = imlib_create_image(dw, dh);
+		if ((bg = imlib_create_image(dw, dh)) == NULL)
+			die("could not allocate memory");
 		imlib_context_set_image(bg);
 		imlib_image_set_has_alpha(0);