diff --git a/src/mustach-dhcpd-pools.c b/src/mustach-dhcpd-pools.c
index f88cc0e..c2ecc0f 100644
--- a/src/mustach-dhcpd-pools.c
+++ b/src/mustach-dhcpd-pools.c
@@ -61,11 +61,20 @@ struct expl {
 static int must_enter(void *closure, const char *name);
 static int must_leave(void *closure);
 
+/* This can be called when template is invalid end put happens before enter. */
+int must_put_err(void *closure __attribute__ ((unused)),
+		 const char *name __attribute__ ((unused)),
+		 int escape __attribute__ ((unused)),
+		 FILE *file __attribute__ ((unused)))
+{
+	return MUSTACH_ERROR_SYSTEM;
+}
+
 /* Set mustach function pointers. */
 static struct mustach_itf itf = {
 	.start = NULL,
 	.enter = must_enter,
-	.put = NULL,
+	.put = must_put_err,
 	.next = NULL,
 	.leave = must_leave
 };
diff --git a/src/mustach.c b/src/mustach.c
index e2da8b2..9868cff 100644
--- a/src/mustach.c
+++ b/src/mustach.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ static int getpartial(struct mustach_itf *itf, void *closure, const char *name,
 
 	*result = NULL;
 	file = open_memstream(result, &size);
-	if (itf->put == NULL || file == NULL)
+	if (file == NULL)
 		rc = MUSTACH_ERROR_SYSTEM;
 	else {
 		rc = itf->put(closure, name, 0, file);
@@ -192,8 +192,6 @@ static int process(const char *template, struct mustach_itf *itf, void *closure,
 		default:
 			/* replacement */
 			if (emit) {
-				if (itf->put == NULL)
-					return MUSTACH_ERROR_SYSTEM;
 				rc = itf->put(closure, name, c != '&', file);
 				if (rc < 0)
 					return rc;