diff --git a/types/wlr_compositor.c b/types/wlr_compositor.c
index c4dba2b4..f3ea8cbb 100644
--- a/types/wlr_compositor.c
+++ b/types/wlr_compositor.c
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ static void compositor_create_surface(struct wl_client *client,
 		wl_resource_get_version(resource), id, compositor->renderer,
 		&compositor->surface_resources);
 	if (surface == NULL) {
+		wl_client_post_no_memory(client);
 		return;
 	}