diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_ipcomp.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_ipcomp.c
index cb40ff0ff28d..3774d07c5819 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_ipcomp.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_ipcomp.c
@@ -203,6 +203,7 @@ static void ipcomp_free_scratches(void)
 		vfree(*per_cpu_ptr(scratches, i));
 
 	free_percpu(scratches);
+	ipcomp_scratches = NULL;
 }
 
 static void * __percpu *ipcomp_alloc_scratches(void)
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@ static void * __percpu *ipcomp_alloc_scratches(void)
 
 	scratches = alloc_percpu(void *);
 	if (!scratches)
-		return NULL;
+		return ipcomp_scratches = NULL;
 
 	ipcomp_scratches = scratches;