diff --git a/src/stick_table.c b/src/stick_table.c
index a65ceb056..d5d95ec96 100644
--- a/src/stick_table.c
+++ b/src/stick_table.c
@@ -603,6 +603,8 @@ int stktable_init(struct stktable *t)
 		t->exp_next = TICK_ETERNITY;
 		if ( t->expire ) {
 			t->exp_task = task_new(MAX_THREADS_MASK);
+			if (!t->exp_task)
+				return 0;
 			t->exp_task->process = process_table_expire;
 			t->exp_task->context = (void *)t;
 		}