diff --git a/quic/test_tools/quic_test_utils.cc b/quic/test_tools/quic_test_utils.cc
index 8081c36..126b87e 100644
--- a/quic/test_tools/quic_test_utils.cc
+++ b/quic/test_tools/quic_test_utils.cc
@@ -191,7 +191,11 @@
   EncryptionLevel level = HeaderToEncryptionLevel(header);
   size_t length =
       framer->BuildDataPacket(header, frames, buffer, packet_size, level);
-  QUICHE_DCHECK_NE(0u, length);
+
+  if (length == 0) {
+    delete[] buffer;
+    return nullptr;
+  }
   // Re-construct the data packet with data ownership.
   return std::make_unique<QuicPacket>(
       buffer, length, /* owns_buffer */ true,