diff --git a/src/alloc.c b/src/alloc.c
index cd4afa1e..5a89831a 100644
--- a/src/alloc.c
+++ b/src/alloc.c
@@ -803,7 +803,11 @@ static bool mi_try_new_handler(bool nothrow) {
   if (h==NULL) {
     _mi_error_message(ENOMEM, "out of memory in 'new'");      
     if (!nothrow) {
+#ifdef __EXCEPTIONS
       throw std::bad_alloc();
+#else 
+      abort();
+#endif
     }
     return false;
   }