diff --git a/Python/symtable.c b/Python/symtable.c
index 81eea95f490..177bb6d436c 100644
--- a/Python/symtable.c
+++ b/Python/symtable.c
@@ -215,8 +215,10 @@ symtable_new(void)
     struct symtable *st;
 
     st = (struct symtable *)PyMem_Malloc(sizeof(struct symtable));
-    if (st == NULL)
+    if (st == NULL) {
+        PyErr_NoMemory();
         return NULL;
+    }
 
     st->st_filename = NULL;
     st->st_blocks = NULL;