diff --git a/src/libs/geotagging.c b/src/libs/geotagging.c
index 6d50c9c6e265..f233f1d38c94 100644
--- a/src/libs/geotagging.c
+++ b/src/libs/geotagging.c
@@ -676,6 +676,11 @@ static void _show_gpx_tracks(dt_lib_module_t *self)
   GList *trkseg = dt_gpx_get_trkseg(d->map.gpx);
   d->map.nb_tracks = g_list_length(trkseg);
   d->map.tracks = g_malloc0(sizeof(dt_lib_tracks_data_t) * d->map.nb_tracks);
+  if(!d->map.tracks)
+  {
+    d->map.nb_tracks = 0;
+    dt_print(DT_DEBUG_ALWAYS, "[geotagging] unable to allocate storage for tracks\n");
+  }
 
   _remove_images_from_map(self);
   for(GList *i = d->imgs; i; i = g_list_next(i))
@@ -1098,9 +1103,12 @@ static GList *_lib_geotagging_get_timezones(void)
     size_t last_char = strlen(name) - 1;
     if(name[last_char] == '\n') name[last_char] = '\0';
     tz_tuple_t *tz_tuple = (tz_tuple_t *)malloc(sizeof(tz_tuple_t));
-    tz_tuple->display = name;
-    tz_tuple->name = name;
-    timezones = g_list_prepend(timezones, tz_tuple);
+    if(tz_tuple)
+    {
+      tz_tuple->display = name;
+      tz_tuple->name = name;
+      timezones = g_list_prepend(timezones, tz_tuple);
+    }
   }
 
   fclose(fp);
@@ -1109,9 +1117,12 @@ static GList *_lib_geotagging_get_timezones(void)
   timezones = g_list_sort(timezones, _sort_timezones);
 
   tz_tuple_t *utc = (tz_tuple_t *)malloc(sizeof(tz_tuple_t));
-  utc->display = g_strdup("UTC");
-  utc->name = utc->display;
-  timezones = g_list_prepend(timezones, utc);
+  if(utc)
+  {
+    utc->display = g_strdup("UTC");
+    utc->name = utc->display;
+    timezones = g_list_prepend(timezones, utc);
+  }
 
 #undef MAX_LINE_LENGTH
 
@@ -1177,11 +1188,12 @@ static GList *_lib_geotagging_get_timezones(void)
                             &buffer_size) == ERROR_SUCCESS)
             {
               tz_tuple_t *tz = (tz_tuple_t *)malloc(sizeof(tz_tuple_t));
-
-              tz->name = subkeyname_utf8;
-              tz->display = g_utf16_to_utf8(display_name, -1, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-              timezones = g_list_prepend(timezones, tz);
-
+              if(tz)
+              {
+                tz->name = subkeyname_utf8;
+                tz->display = g_utf16_to_utf8(display_name, -1, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+                timezones = g_list_prepend(timezones, tz);
+              }
               subkeyname_utf8 = NULL; // to not free it later
             }
             free(display_name);
diff --git a/src/libs/location.c b/src/libs/location.c
index fcf7b0161f78..2a6389ee7b48 100644
--- a/src/libs/location.c
+++ b/src/libs/location.c
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ void gui_init(dt_lib_module_t *self)
 {
   self->data = calloc(1, sizeof(dt_lib_location_t));
   dt_lib_location_t *lib = self->data;
+  if(!lib)
+    return;
 
   self->widget = gtk_box_new(GTK_ORIENTATION_VERTICAL, 0);
 
@@ -209,13 +211,15 @@ static GtkWidget *_lib_location_place_widget_new(dt_lib_location_t *lib,
 
   /* connect button press signal for result item */
   _callback_param_t *param = (_callback_param_t *)malloc(sizeof(_callback_param_t));
-  lib->callback_params = g_list_append(lib->callback_params, param);
-  param->lib = lib;
-  param->result = place;
-  g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(eb), "button-press-event",
-                   G_CALLBACK(_lib_location_result_item_activated),
-                   (gpointer)param);
-
+  if(param)
+  {
+    lib->callback_params = g_list_append(lib->callback_params, param);
+    param->lib = lib;
+    param->result = place;
+    g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(eb), "button-press-event",
+                     G_CALLBACK(_lib_location_result_item_activated),
+                     (gpointer)param);
+  }
   return eb;
 }
 
@@ -227,13 +231,15 @@ static size_t _lib_location_curl_write_data(void *buffer,
   dt_lib_location_t *lib = (dt_lib_location_t *)userp;
 
   char *newdata = g_malloc0(lib->response_size + nmemb + 1);
-  if(lib->response != NULL)
-    memcpy(newdata, lib->response, lib->response_size);
-  memcpy(newdata + lib->response_size, buffer, nmemb);
-  g_free(lib->response);
-  lib->response = newdata;
-  lib->response_size += nmemb;
-
+  if(newdata)
+  {
+    if(lib->response != NULL)
+      memcpy(newdata, lib->response, lib->response_size);
+    memcpy(newdata + lib->response_size, buffer, nmemb);
+    g_free(lib->response);
+    lib->response = newdata;
+    lib->response_size += nmemb;
+  }
   return nmemb;
 }
 
@@ -560,9 +566,12 @@ static void _lib_location_parser_start_element(GMarkupParseContext *cxt,
           {
             place->marker_type = MAP_DISPLAY_POINT;
             dt_geo_map_display_point_t *p = malloc(sizeof(dt_geo_map_display_point_t));
-            p->lon = lon;
-            p->lat = lat;
-            place->marker_points = g_list_append(place->marker_points, p);
+            if(p)
+            {
+              p->lon = lon;
+              p->lat = lat;
+              place->marker_points = g_list_append(place->marker_points, p);
+            }
           }
         }
         else if(g_str_has_prefix(*avalue, "LINESTRING")
@@ -630,9 +639,12 @@ static void _lib_location_parser_start_element(GMarkupParseContext *cxt,
               break;
             }
             dt_geo_map_display_point_t *p = malloc(sizeof(dt_geo_map_display_point_t));
-            p->lon = lon;
-            p->lat = lat;
-            place->marker_points = g_list_prepend(place->marker_points, p);
+            if(p)
+            {
+              p->lon = lon;
+              p->lat = lat;
+              place->marker_points = g_list_prepend(place->marker_points, p);
+            }
             startptr = endptr+1;
             i++;
           }
@@ -718,6 +730,12 @@ void *get_params(dt_lib_module_t *self,
   const size_t size_total = size_fixed + size_name + size_points;
 
   void *params = malloc(size_total);
+  if(!params)
+  {
+    *size = 0;
+    return NULL;
+  }
+
   struct params_fixed_t *params_fixed = (struct params_fixed_t *)params;
   params_fixed->relevance = location->relevance;
   params_fixed->type = location->type;
@@ -765,8 +783,12 @@ int set_params(dt_lib_module_t *self,
 
   if(size_points % 2 * sizeof(float) != 0) return 1;
 
-  _lib_location_result_t *location =
-    (_lib_location_result_t *)malloc(sizeof(_lib_location_result_t));
+  _lib_location_result_t *location = malloc(sizeof(_lib_location_result_t));
+  if(!location)
+  {
+    dt_print(DT_DEBUG_ALWAYS, "[location] out of memory\n");
+    return 1;
+  }
 
   location->relevance = params_fixed->relevance;
   location->type = params_fixed->type;
@@ -786,9 +808,12 @@ int set_params(dt_lib_module_t *self,
   {
     dt_geo_map_display_point_t *p =
       (dt_geo_map_display_point_t *)malloc(sizeof(dt_geo_map_display_point_t));
-    p->lat = points[0];
-    p->lon = points[1];
-    location->marker_points = g_list_prepend(location->marker_points, p);
+    if(p)
+    {
+      p->lat = points[0];
+      p->lon = points[1];
+      location->marker_points = g_list_prepend(location->marker_points, p);
+    }
   }
   location->marker_points = g_list_reverse(location->marker_points);
 
diff --git a/src/libs/masks.c b/src/libs/masks.c
index 8f558168d7bd..6bb47ed3f6d0 100644
--- a/src/libs/masks.c
+++ b/src/libs/masks.c
@@ -380,12 +380,15 @@ static void _tree_group(GtkButton *button, dt_lib_module_t *self)
       {
         dt_masks_point_group_t *fpt =
           (dt_masks_point_group_t *)malloc(sizeof(dt_masks_point_group_t));
-        fpt->formid = id;
-        fpt->parentid = grp->formid;
-        fpt->opacity = 1.0f;
-        fpt->state = DT_MASKS_STATE_USE;
-        if(pos > 0) fpt->state |= DT_MASKS_STATE_UNION;
-        grp->points = g_list_append(grp->points, fpt);
+        if(fpt)
+        {
+          fpt->formid = id;
+          fpt->parentid = grp->formid;
+          fpt->opacity = 1.0f;
+          fpt->state = DT_MASKS_STATE_USE;
+          if(pos > 0) fpt->state |= DT_MASKS_STATE_UNION;
+          grp->points = g_list_append(grp->points, fpt);
+        }
         pos++;
       }
     }
@@ -819,11 +822,14 @@ static void _tree_selection_change(GtkTreeSelection *selection, dt_lib_masks_t *
       {
         dt_masks_point_group_t *fpt =
           (dt_masks_point_group_t *)malloc(sizeof(dt_masks_point_group_t));
-        fpt->formid = id;
-        fpt->parentid = grid;
-        fpt->state = DT_MASKS_STATE_USE;
-        fpt->opacity = 1.0f;
-        grp->points = g_list_append(grp->points, fpt);
+        if(fpt)
+        {
+          fpt->formid = id;
+          fpt->parentid = grid;
+          fpt->state = DT_MASKS_STATE_USE;
+          fpt->opacity = 1.0f;
+          grp->points = g_list_append(grp->points, fpt);
+        }
         // we eventually set the "show masks" icon of iops
         if(nb == 1 && (form->type & DT_MASKS_GROUP))
         {
diff --git a/src/libs/metadata.c b/src/libs/metadata.c
index c9fe40d64441..9bdf61e919b3 100644
--- a/src/libs/metadata.c
+++ b/src/libs/metadata.c
@@ -789,10 +789,13 @@ static void add_rights_preset(dt_lib_module_t *self, char *name, char *string)
   const unsigned int params_size = strlen(string) + metadata_nb;
 
   char *params = calloc(sizeof(char), params_size);
-  memcpy(params + 4, string, params_size - metadata_nb);
-  dt_lib_presets_add(name, self->plugin_name, self->version(),
-                     params, params_size, TRUE, 0);
-  free(params);
+  if(params)
+  {
+    memcpy(params + 4, string, params_size - metadata_nb);
+    dt_lib_presets_add(name, self->plugin_name, self->version(),
+                       params, params_size, TRUE, 0);
+    free(params);
+  }
 }
 
 void init_presets(dt_lib_module_t *self)
@@ -908,6 +911,8 @@ void *get_params(dt_lib_module_t *self, int *size)
   }
 
   char *params = (char *)malloc(*size);
+  if(!params)
+    return NULL;
 
   int pos = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/libs/metadata_view.c b/src/libs/metadata_view.c
index 05cbbfaa16c1..aa827f951032 100644
--- a/src/libs/metadata_view.c
+++ b/src/libs/metadata_view.c
@@ -232,11 +232,14 @@ static void _lib_metadata_init_queue(dt_lib_module_t *self)
   for(int i = md_size - 1; i >= 0; i--)
   {
     dt_lib_metadata_info_t *m = g_malloc0(sizeof(dt_lib_metadata_info_t));
-    m->name = (char *)_get_label(i);
-    m->value = g_strdup(NODATA_STRING);
-    m->index = m->order = i;
-    m->visible = _is_metadata_ui(i);
-    d->metadata = g_list_prepend(d->metadata, m);
+    if(m)
+    {
+      m->name = (char *)_get_label(i);
+      m->value = g_strdup(NODATA_STRING);
+      m->index = m->order = i;
+      m->visible = _is_metadata_ui(i);
+      d->metadata = g_list_prepend(d->metadata, m);
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libs/modulegroups.c b/src/libs/modulegroups.c
index 22d680597e1b..4afc350f6713 100644
--- a/src/libs/modulegroups.c
+++ b/src/libs/modulegroups.c
@@ -1402,6 +1402,8 @@ static void _preset_from_string(dt_lib_module_t *self, gchar *txt, gboolean edit
       {
         dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t *item
             = (dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t *)g_malloc0(sizeof(dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t));
+        if(!item)
+          continue;
         item->id = g_strdup(gr2[j]);
         _basics_init_item(item);
 
@@ -1425,16 +1427,18 @@ static void _preset_from_string(dt_lib_module_t *self, gchar *txt, gboolean edit
       const int nb = g_strv_length(gr2);
       if(nb > 2)
       {
-        dt_lib_modulegroups_group_t *group
-            = (dt_lib_modulegroups_group_t *)g_malloc0(sizeof(dt_lib_modulegroups_group_t));
-        group->name = g_strdup(gr2[0]);
-        group->icon = g_strdup(gr2[1]);
-        // gr2[2] is reserved for eventual future use
-        for(int j = 3; j < nb; j++)
+        dt_lib_modulegroups_group_t *group = g_malloc0(sizeof(dt_lib_modulegroups_group_t));
+        if(group)
         {
-          group->modules = g_list_append(group->modules, g_strdup(gr2[j]));
+          group->name = g_strdup(gr2[0]);
+          group->icon = g_strdup(gr2[1]);
+          // gr2[2] is reserved for eventual future use
+          for(int j = 3; j < nb; j++)
+          {
+            group->modules = g_list_append(group->modules, g_strdup(gr2[j]));
+          }
+          res = g_list_prepend(res, group);
         }
-        res = g_list_prepend(res, group);
       }
       g_strfreev(gr2);
     }
@@ -2204,12 +2208,13 @@ static int _lib_modulegroups_basics_module_toggle_action(dt_lib_module_t *self,
 
     if(!found_item)
     {
-      dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t *item
-          = (dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t *)g_malloc0(sizeof(dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t));
-      item->id = action_id;
-      _basics_init_item(item);
-
-      d->basics = g_list_append(d->basics, item);
+      dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t *item = g_malloc0(sizeof(dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t));
+      if(item)
+      {
+        item->id = action_id;
+        _basics_init_item(item);
+        d->basics = g_list_append(d->basics, item);
+      }
     }
     else
     {
@@ -2264,12 +2269,13 @@ static void _manage_editor_basics_add(GtkWidget *widget,
     g_free(action_id);
   else
   {
-    dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t *item
-        = (dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t *)g_malloc0(sizeof(dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t));
-    item->id = action_id;
-    _basics_init_item(item);
-
-    d->edit_basics = g_list_append(d->edit_basics, item);
+    dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t *item = g_malloc0(sizeof(dt_lib_modulegroups_basic_item_t));
+    if(item)
+    {
+      item->id = action_id;
+      _basics_init_item(item);
+      d->edit_basics = g_list_append(d->edit_basics, item);
+    }
     _manage_editor_basics_update_list(self);
   }
 }
@@ -3468,16 +3474,18 @@ static void _manage_editor_group_add(GtkWidget *widget,
                                      dt_lib_module_t *self)
 {
   dt_lib_modulegroups_t *d = (dt_lib_modulegroups_t *)self->data;
-  dt_lib_modulegroups_group_t *gr =
-    (dt_lib_modulegroups_group_t *)g_malloc0(sizeof(dt_lib_modulegroups_group_t));
-  gr->name = g_strdup(_("new"));
-  gr->icon = g_strdup("basic");
-  d->edit_groups = g_list_append(d->edit_groups, gr);
-
-  // we update the group list
-  GtkWidget *vb2 = _manage_editor_group_init_modules_box(self, gr);
-  gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(d->preset_groups_box), vb2, FALSE, TRUE, 0);
-  gtk_widget_show_all(vb2);
+  dt_lib_modulegroups_group_t *gr = g_malloc0(sizeof(dt_lib_modulegroups_group_t));
+  if(gr)
+  {
+    gr->name = g_strdup(_("new"));
+    gr->icon = g_strdup("basic");
+    d->edit_groups = g_list_append(d->edit_groups, gr);
+
+    // we update the group list
+    GtkWidget *vb2 = _manage_editor_group_init_modules_box(self, gr);
+    gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(d->preset_groups_box), vb2, FALSE, TRUE, 0);
+    gtk_widget_show_all(vb2);
+  }
 
   // and we update arrows
   _manage_editor_group_update_arrows(d->preset_groups_box);
diff --git a/src/libs/print_settings.c b/src/libs/print_settings.c
index 3a034a32730e..09c56480b46e 100644
--- a/src/libs/print_settings.c
+++ b/src/libs/print_settings.c
@@ -308,6 +308,11 @@ static int write_image(dt_imageio_module_data_t *data,
 
   d->params->buf =
     (uint16_t *)malloc((size_t)3 * (d->bpp == 8?1:2) * d->head.width * d->head.height);
+  if(!d->params->buf)
+  {
+    dt_print(DT_DEBUG_ALWAYS, "[print] unable to allocate memory for image %s\n", filename);
+    return 1;
+  }
 
   if(d->bpp == 8)
   {
diff --git a/src/libs/recentcollect.c b/src/libs/recentcollect.c
index 357d788f2c39..577cc7b940b8 100644
--- a/src/libs/recentcollect.c
+++ b/src/libs/recentcollect.c
@@ -276,13 +276,16 @@ void _menuitem_preferences(GtkMenuItem *menuitem, dt_lib_module_t *self)
         GtkWidget *box = GTK_WIDGET(d->box);
         dt_lib_recentcollect_item_t *item
             = (dt_lib_recentcollect_item_t *)malloc(sizeof(dt_lib_recentcollect_item_t));
-        d->items = g_list_append(d->items, item);
-        item->button = gtk_button_new();
-        gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(box), item->button, FALSE, TRUE, 0);
-        g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(item->button), "clicked", G_CALLBACK(_button_pressed), (gpointer)self);
-        gtk_widget_set_no_show_all(item->button, TRUE);
-        gtk_widget_set_name(GTK_WIDGET(item->button), "recent-collection-button");
-        gtk_widget_set_visible(item->button, FALSE);
+        if(item)
+        {
+          d->items = g_list_append(d->items, item);
+          item->button = gtk_button_new();
+          gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(box), item->button, FALSE, TRUE, 0);
+          g_signal_connect(G_OBJECT(item->button), "clicked", G_CALLBACK(_button_pressed), (gpointer)self);
+          gtk_widget_set_no_show_all(item->button, TRUE);
+          gtk_widget_set_name(GTK_WIDGET(item->button), "recent-collection-button");
+          gtk_widget_set_visible(item->button, FALSE);
+        }
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/libs/tagging.c b/src/libs/tagging.c
index c36dc3d94c72..c4c2e1b2bd28 100644
--- a/src/libs/tagging.c
+++ b/src/libs/tagging.c
@@ -1969,16 +1969,21 @@ static void _pop_menu_dictionary_edit_tag(GtkWidget *menuitem, dt_lib_module_t *
       // update the store
       GtkTreeModel *store = gtk_tree_model_filter_get_model(GTK_TREE_MODEL_FILTER(model));
       dt_tag_op_t *to = g_malloc(sizeof(dt_tag_op_t));
-      to->tree_flag = d->tree_flag;
-      to->oldtagname = tagname;
-      to->newtagname = new_prefix_tag;
-      gint sort_column;
-      GtkSortType sort_order;
-      gtk_tree_sortable_get_sort_column_id(GTK_TREE_SORTABLE(store), &sort_column, &sort_order);
-      gtk_tree_sortable_set_sort_column_id(GTK_TREE_SORTABLE(store), GTK_TREE_SORTABLE_UNSORTED_SORT_COLUMN_ID, GTK_SORT_ASCENDING);
-      gtk_tree_model_foreach(store, (GtkTreeModelForeachFunc)_update_tag_name_per_name, to);
-      gtk_tree_sortable_set_sort_column_id(GTK_TREE_SORTABLE(store), sort_column, sort_order);
-      g_free(to);
+      if(to)
+      {
+        to->tree_flag = d->tree_flag;
+        to->oldtagname = tagname;
+        to->newtagname = new_prefix_tag;
+        gint sort_column;
+        GtkSortType sort_order;
+        gtk_tree_sortable_get_sort_column_id(GTK_TREE_SORTABLE(store), &sort_column, &sort_order);
+        gtk_tree_sortable_set_sort_column_id(GTK_TREE_SORTABLE(store),
+                                             GTK_TREE_SORTABLE_UNSORTED_SORT_COLUMN_ID,
+                                             GTK_SORT_ASCENDING);
+        gtk_tree_model_foreach(store, (GtkTreeModelForeachFunc)_update_tag_name_per_name, to);
+        gtk_tree_sortable_set_sort_column_id(GTK_TREE_SORTABLE(store), sort_column, sort_order);
+        g_free(to);
+      }
       if(subtag) g_free(new_prefix_tag);
 
       _raise_signal_tag_changed(self);
@@ -2342,9 +2347,12 @@ static void _pop_menu_dictionary(GtkWidget *treeview, GdkEventButton *event, dt_
     if(d->collection[0])
     {
       char *collection = g_malloc(4096);
-      dt_collection_serialize(collection, 4096, FALSE);
-      if(g_strcmp0(d->collection, collection) == 0) d->collection[0] = '\0';
-      g_free(collection);
+      if(collection)
+      {
+        dt_collection_serialize(collection, 4096, FALSE);
+        if(g_strcmp0(d->collection, collection) == 0) d->collection[0] = '\0';
+        g_free(collection);
+      }
     }
     if(count || d->collection[0])
     {