diff --git a/src/libratbag-hidraw.c b/src/libratbag-hidraw.c
index d712806e..2a29bef6 100644
--- a/src/libratbag-hidraw.c
+++ b/src/libratbag-hidraw.c
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ ratbag_open_hidraw_node(struct ratbag_device *device, struct udev_device *hidraw
 	device->hidraw.reports = zalloc(reports_size);
 	ratbag_hidraw_parse_report_descriptor(device);
 
-	device->hidraw.sysname = strdup(sysname);
+	device->hidraw.sysname = strdup_safe(sysname);
 	return 0;
 
 err:
diff --git a/src/libratbag-util.h b/src/libratbag-util.h
index 3bd12a2a..bb79c028 100644
--- a/src/libratbag-util.h
+++ b/src/libratbag-util.h
@@ -99,6 +99,24 @@ zalloc(size_t size)
 	return p;
 }
 
+/**
+ * returns NULL if str is NULL, otherwise guarantees a successful strdup.
+ */
+static inline char *
+strdup_safe(const char *str)
+{
+	char *s;
+
+	if (!str)
+		return NULL;
+
+	s = strdup(str);
+	if (!s)
+		abort();
+
+	return s;
+}
+
 static inline void
 msleep(unsigned int ms)
 {
diff --git a/src/libratbag.c b/src/libratbag.c
index 4ad3aa99..5235672f 100644
--- a/src/libratbag.c
+++ b/src/libratbag.c
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ ratbag_device_new(struct ratbag *ratbag, struct udev_device *udev_device,
 	struct ratbag_device *device = NULL;
 
 	device = zalloc(sizeof(*device));
-	device->name = strdup(name);
+	device->name = strdup_safe(name);
 
 	if (!name) {
 		free(device);
@@ -1190,7 +1190,7 @@ ratbag_button_set_macro(struct ratbag_button *button, const char *name)
 	}
 
 	button->action.type = RATBAG_BUTTON_ACTION_TYPE_MACRO;
-	button->action.macro->name = name ? strdup(name) : NULL;
+	button->action.macro->name = strdup_safe(name);
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/tools/ratbag-command.c b/tools/ratbag-command.c
index a332438b..5ba24adc 100644
--- a/tools/ratbag-command.c
+++ b/tools/ratbag-command.c
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ str_to_macro(const char *action_arg, struct macro *m)
 	if (!action_arg)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	str = strdup(action_arg);
+	str = strdup_safe(action_arg);
 	s = str;
 
 	m->name = "<cmdline>";
diff --git a/tools/shared.c b/tools/shared.c
index 29202bab..1e7fa19a 100644
--- a/tools/shared.c
+++ b/tools/shared.c
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ button_action_button_to_str(struct ratbag_button *button)
 
 	sprintf(str, "button %d", ratbag_button_get_button(button));
 
-	return strdup(str);
+	return strdup_safe(str);
 }
 
 char *
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ button_action_key_to_str(struct ratbag_button *button)
 	if (!str)
 		str = "UNKNOWN";
 
-	return strdup(str);
+	return strdup_safe(str);
 }
 
 static const char *strip_ev_key(int key)
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ button_action_macro_to_str(struct ratbag_button *button)
 		}
 	}
 
-	return strdup(str);
+	return strdup_safe(str);
 }
 
 char *
@@ -205,12 +205,12 @@ button_action_to_str(struct ratbag_button *button)
 	switch (type) {
 	case RATBAG_BUTTON_ACTION_TYPE_BUTTON:	str = button_action_button_to_str(button); break;
 	case RATBAG_BUTTON_ACTION_TYPE_KEY:	str = button_action_key_to_str(button); break;
-	case RATBAG_BUTTON_ACTION_TYPE_SPECIAL:	str = strdup(button_action_special_to_str(button)); break;
+	case RATBAG_BUTTON_ACTION_TYPE_SPECIAL:	str = strdup_safe(button_action_special_to_str(button)); break;
 	case RATBAG_BUTTON_ACTION_TYPE_MACRO:	str = button_action_macro_to_str(button); break;
-	case RATBAG_BUTTON_ACTION_TYPE_NONE:	str = strdup("none"); break;
+	case RATBAG_BUTTON_ACTION_TYPE_NONE:	str = strdup_safe("none"); break;
 	default:
 		error("type %d unknown\n", type);
-		str = strdup("UNKNOWN");
+		str = strdup_safe("UNKNOWN");
 	}
 
 	return str;