diff --git a/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_receiver.cpp b/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_receiver.cpp
index 8bcaf22c4b..fbefda08fd 100644
--- a/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_receiver.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_receiver.cpp
@@ -2493,6 +2493,11 @@ void *MavlinkReceiver::start_helper(void *context)
 
 	MavlinkReceiver *rcv = new MavlinkReceiver((Mavlink *)context);
 
+	if (!rcv) {
+		PX4_ERR("alloc failed");
+		return nullptr;
+	}
+
 	void *ret = rcv->receive_thread(nullptr);
 
 	delete rcv;
diff --git a/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_receiver.h b/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_receiver.h
index 7b144f50c8..9315a12fee 100644
--- a/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_receiver.h
+++ b/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_receiver.h
@@ -99,13 +99,6 @@ public:
 	 */
 	~MavlinkReceiver();
 
-	/**
-	* Start the mavlink task.
-	 *
-	 * @return		OK on success.
-	 */
-	int		start();
-
 	/**
 	 * Display the mavlink status.
 	 */