diff --git a/icu4c/source/layout/LEGlyphStorage.cpp b/icu4c/source/layout/LEGlyphStorage.cpp
index 2ecd1287145..42824c36112 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/layout/LEGlyphStorage.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/layout/LEGlyphStorage.cpp
@@ -119,6 +119,11 @@ le_int32 LEGlyphStorage::allocatePositions(LEErrorCode &success)
         return -1;
     }
 
+    if (fPositions != NULL) {
+        success = LE_INTERNAL_ERROR;
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     fPositions = LE_NEW_ARRAY(float, 2 * (fGlyphCount + 1));
 
     if (fPositions == NULL) {
@@ -136,6 +141,11 @@ le_int32 LEGlyphStorage::allocateAuxData(LEErrorCode &success)
         return -1;
     }
 
+    if (fAuxData != NULL) {
+        success = LE_INTERNAL_ERROR;
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     fAuxData = LE_NEW_ARRAY(le_uint32, fGlyphCount);
 
     if (fAuxData == NULL) {