diff --git a/src/arena.c b/src/arena.c
index 6e1526ac..f697622f 100644
--- a/src/arena.c
+++ b/src/arena.c
@@ -197,7 +197,10 @@ void* _mi_arena_alloc_aligned(size_t size, size_t alignment, bool* commit, bool*
   }
 
   // finally, fall back to the OS
-  if (mi_option_is_enabled(mi_option_limit_os_alloc)) return NULL;
+  if (mi_option_is_enabled(mi_option_limit_os_alloc)) {
+    errno = ENOMEM;
+    return NULL;
+  }
   *is_zero = true;
   *memid   = MI_MEMID_OS;  
   void* p = _mi_os_alloc_aligned(size, alignment, *commit, large, tld->stats);