diff --git a/kernel/workqueue.c b/kernel/workqueue.c
index c85825e17df8..e9f181d12050 100644
--- a/kernel/workqueue.c
+++ b/kernel/workqueue.c
@@ -4741,6 +4741,7 @@ struct workqueue_struct *alloc_workqueue(const char *fmt,
 err_unreg_lockdep:
 	wq_unregister_lockdep(wq);
 	wq_free_lockdep(wq);
+	return NULL;
 err_free_wq:
 	free_workqueue_attrs(wq->unbound_attrs);
 	kfree(wq);