diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c
index f5ba9be917700..1ffac2b32d81a 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c
@@ -1464,6 +1464,8 @@ static void nfsd4_process_cb_update(struct nfsd4_callback *cb)
 		ses = c->cn_session;
 	}
 	spin_unlock(&clp->cl_lock);
+	if (!c)
+		return;
 
 	err = setup_callback_client(clp, &conn, ses);
 	if (err) {