diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/nr_rlc/nr_rlc_sdu.c b/openair2/LAYER2/nr_rlc/nr_rlc_sdu.c
index a5c722a036..60f50d0afd 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/nr_rlc/nr_rlc_sdu.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/nr_rlc/nr_rlc_sdu.c
@@ -32,13 +32,14 @@ nr_rlc_sdu_segment_t *nr_rlc_new_sdu(
 {
   /* allocate sdu header and data together */
   nr_rlc_sdu_t *sdu = malloc(sizeof(nr_rlc_sdu_t) + size);
+  nr_rlc_sdu_segment_t *ret = calloc(1, sizeof(nr_rlc_sdu_segment_t));
+
+  DevAssert(sdu != NULL);
+  DevAssert(ret != NULL);
+
   /* only memset the header */
   memset(sdu, 0 , sizeof(*sdu));
 
-  nr_rlc_sdu_segment_t *ret = calloc(1, sizeof(nr_rlc_sdu_segment_t));
-  if (sdu == NULL || ret == NULL)
-    goto oom;
-
   sdu->ref_count      = 1;
   sdu->sn             = -1;                 /* set later */
   sdu->upper_layer_id = upper_layer_id;
@@ -54,10 +55,6 @@ nr_rlc_sdu_segment_t *nr_rlc_new_sdu(
   ret->is_last  = 1;
 
   return ret;
-
-oom:
-  LOG_E(RLC, "%s:%d:%s: out of memory\n", __FILE__, __LINE__,  __FUNCTION__);
-  exit(1);
 }
 
 int nr_rlc_free_sdu_segment(nr_rlc_sdu_segment_t *sdu)