--- x/fs/9p/v9fs.c
+++ y/fs/9p/v9fs.c
@@ -408,6 +408,7 @@ struct p9_fid *v9fs_session_init(struct
 	v9ses->clnt = p9_client_create(dev_name, data);
 	if (IS_ERR(v9ses->clnt)) {
 		rc = PTR_ERR(v9ses->clnt);
+		v9ses->clnt = NULL;
 		p9_debug(P9_DEBUG_ERROR, "problem initializing 9p client\n");
 		goto err_names;
 	}
@@ -486,6 +487,7 @@ err_clnt:
 	kfree(v9ses->cachetag);
 #endif
 	p9_client_destroy(v9ses->clnt);
+	v9ses->clnt = NULL;
 err_names:
 	kfree(v9ses->uname);
 	kfree(v9ses->aname);
@@ -527,6 +529,8 @@ void v9fs_session_close(struct v9fs_sess
 void v9fs_session_cancel(struct v9fs_session_info *v9ses)
 {
 	p9_debug(P9_DEBUG_ERROR, "cancel session %p\n", v9ses);
+	if (!v9ses->clnt)
+		return;
 	p9_client_disconnect(v9ses->clnt);
 }