diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_ipcomp.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_ipcomp.c
index cb40ff0ff28d..17815cde8a7f 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_ipcomp.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_ipcomp.c
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ static void * __percpu *ipcomp_alloc_scratches(void)
 
 	scratches = alloc_percpu(void *);
 	if (!scratches)
-		return NULL;
+		return ipcomp_scratches = NULL;
 
 	ipcomp_scratches = scratches;