diff --git a/source/dnode/vnode/src/tq/tqMeta.c b/source/dnode/vnode/src/tq/tqMeta.c
index b71fd1518a..2a9b404060 100644
--- a/source/dnode/vnode/src/tq/tqMeta.c
+++ b/source/dnode/vnode/src/tq/tqMeta.c
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ static int buildHandle(STQ* pTq, STqHandle* handle) {
 
   handle->pRef = walOpenRef(pVnode->pWal);
   if (handle->pRef == NULL) {
-    return -1;
+    TAOS_RETURN(TSDB_CODE_OUT_OF_MEMORY);
   }
 
   TAOS_CHECK_RETURN(walSetRefVer(handle->pRef, handle->snapshotVer));