diff --git a/src/target/hla_target.c b/src/target/hla_target.c
index 4bf7bdc4d..4f97eb95c 100644
--- a/src/target/hla_target.c
+++ b/src/target/hla_target.c
@@ -366,12 +366,14 @@ static int adapter_target_create(struct target *target,
 {
 	LOG_DEBUG("%s", __func__);
 	struct adiv5_private_config *pc = target->private_config;
-	struct cortex_m_common *cortex_m = calloc(1, sizeof(struct cortex_m_common));
-	if (!cortex_m)
-		return ERROR_COMMAND_SYNTAX_ERROR;
-
 	if (pc != NULL && pc->ap_num > 0) {
 		LOG_ERROR("hla_target: invalid parameter -ap-num (> 0)");
+		return ERROR_COMMAND_SYNTAX_ERROR;
+	}
+
+	struct cortex_m_common *cortex_m = calloc(1, sizeof(struct cortex_m_common));
+	if (cortex_m == NULL) {
+		LOG_ERROR("No memory creating target");
 		return ERROR_FAIL;
 	}