diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/auth.c b/drivers/nvme/target/auth.c
index 7897d02c681da..b0fd211ec57ea 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/auth.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/auth.c
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ int nvmet_setup_dhgroup(struct nvmet_ctrl *ctrl, u8 dhgroup_id)
 			pr_debug("%s: ctrl %d failed to generate private key, err %d\n",
 				 __func__, ctrl->cntlid, ret);
 			kfree_sensitive(ctrl->dh_key);
+			ctrl->dh_key = NULL;
 			return ret;
 		}
 		ctrl->dh_keysize = crypto_kpp_maxsize(ctrl->dh_tfm);