diff --git a/conn.go b/conn.go
index d0f50f6..b2f547d 100644
--- a/conn.go
+++ b/conn.go
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ func (c *Conn) new(len uint32) uint32 {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 	ptr := uint32(r[0])
-	if ptr == 0 {
+	if ptr == 0 && len != 0 {
 		panic(oomErr)
 	}
 	return ptr
diff --git a/conn_test.go b/conn_test.go
index 1512196..bb3a1ef 100644
--- a/conn_test.go
+++ b/conn_test.go
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ func TestConn_free(t *testing.T) {
 
 	db.free(0)
 
-	ptr := db.new(0)
+	ptr := db.new(1)
 	if ptr == 0 {
 		t.Error("got nullptr, want a pointer")
 	}