diff --git a/src/_imagingft.c b/src/_imagingft.c
index f6bd787ef..964ed6ab1 100644
--- a/src/_imagingft.c
+++ b/src/_imagingft.c
@@ -1006,6 +1006,9 @@ font_render(FontObject* self, PyObject* args)
 
         num_coords = PyObject_Length(axes);
         coords = malloc(2 * sizeof(coords));
+        if (coords == NULL) {
+            return PyErr_NoMemory();
+        }
         for (i = 0; i < num_coords; i++) {
             item = PyList_GET_ITEM(axes, i);
             if (PyFloat_Check(item))
@@ -1015,6 +1018,7 @@ font_render(FontObject* self, PyObject* args)
             else if (PyNumber_Check(item))
                 coord = PyFloat_AsDouble(item);
             else {
+                free(coords);
                 PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "list must contain numbers");
                 return NULL;
             }
@@ -1022,6 +1026,7 @@ font_render(FontObject* self, PyObject* args)
         }
 
         error = FT_Set_Var_Design_Coordinates(self->face, num_coords, coords);
+        free(coords);
         if (error)
             return geterror(error);