diff --git a/net/socket.c b/net/socket.c
index 24b4042990155..9a8e4452b9b21 100644
--- a/net/socket.c
+++ b/net/socket.c
@@ -1576,9 +1576,9 @@ int __sock_create(struct net *net, int family, int type, int protocol,
 	err = pf->create(net, sock, protocol, kern);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		/* ->create should release the allocated sock->sk object on error
-		 * but it may leave the dangling pointer
+		 * and make sure sock->sk is set to NULL to avoid use-after-free
 		 */
-		sock->sk = NULL;
+		DEBUG_NET_WARN_ON_ONCE(sock->sk);
 		goto out_module_put;
 	}