diff --git a/shell/msh.c b/shell/msh.c
index d8353e0a2..e47af795e 100644
--- a/shell/msh.c
+++ b/shell/msh.c
@@ -1621,7 +1621,7 @@ REGISTER int sub;
 
 static void initarea()
 {
-	brkaddr = malloc(AREASIZE);
+	brkaddr = xmalloc(AREASIZE);
 	brktop = brkaddr + AREASIZE;
 
 	while ((long) sbrk(0) & ALIGN)