diff --git a/src/format/context/output.rs b/src/format/context/output.rs
index 66a50b2..ceb1ec9 100644
--- a/src/format/context/output.rs
+++ b/src/format/context/output.rs
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ impl Output {
             let ptr = avformat_new_stream(self.as_mut_ptr(), codec);
 
             if ptr.is_null() {
-                panic!("out of memory");
+                return Err(Error::Unknown);
             }
 
             let index = (*self.ctx.as_ptr()).nb_streams - 1;