diff --git a/sched/group/group_childstatus.c b/sched/group/group_childstatus.c
index 4b9cb086c2..dfc3a0bd88 100644
--- a/sched/group/group_childstatus.c
+++ b/sched/group/group_childstatus.c
@@ -156,8 +156,7 @@ void task_initialize(void)
  *
  * Returned Value:
  *   On success, a non-NULL pointer to a child status structure.  NULL is
- *   returned if there are no remaining, pre-allocated child status
- *   structures.
+ *   returned when memory allocation fails.
  *
  * Assumptions:
  *   Called during task creation in a safe context.  No special precautions
@@ -177,6 +176,10 @@ FAR struct child_status_s *group_alloc_child(void)
       g_child_pool.freelist = ret->flink;
       ret->flink            = NULL;
     }
+  else
+    {
+      ret = kmm_zalloc(sizeof(*ret));
+    }
 
   return ret;
 }