diff --git a/apps/app_voicemail.c b/apps/app_voicemail.c
index dc7006b2e1..74bfd2c9a3 100644
--- a/apps/app_voicemail.c
+++ b/apps/app_voicemail.c
@@ -3845,7 +3845,9 @@ static int vm_forwardoptions(struct ast_channel *chan, struct ast_vm_user *vmu,
 	strncat(textfile, ".txt", sizeof(textfile) - 1);
 	strncat(backup, "-bak", sizeof(backup) - 1);
 
-	msg_cfg = ast_config_load(textfile);
+	if (!(msg_cfg = ast_config_load(textfile))) {
+		return -1;
+	}
 
 	*duration = 0;
 	if ((duration_str = ast_variable_retrieve(msg_cfg, "message", "duration")))