diff --git a/ports/esp32/main.c b/ports/esp32/main.c
index 6fb15d3cc8..62dd7ae3cc 100644
--- a/ports/esp32/main.c
+++ b/ports/esp32/main.c
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ void mp_task(void *pvParameter) {
     }
 
     void *mp_task_heap = MP_PLAT_ALLOC_HEAP(MICROPY_GC_INITIAL_HEAP_SIZE);
+    if (mp_task_heap == NULL) {
+        printf("mp_task_heap allocation failed!\n");
+        esp_restart();
+    }
 
 soft_reset:
     // initialise the stack pointer for the main thread