diff --git a/src/signal.c b/src/signal.c
index 23b352cb1f..28d0fd1c9f 100644
--- a/src/signal.c
+++ b/src/signal.c
@@ -651,6 +651,7 @@ int rt_thread_kill(rt_thread_t tid, int sig)
     else
     {
         LOG_E("The allocation of signal info node failed.");
+        return -RT_EEMPTY;
     }
 
     /* deliver signal to this thread */