diff --git a/lib/test_kmod.c b/lib/test_kmod.c
index ce1589391413..cb800b1d0d99 100644
--- a/lib/test_kmod.c
+++ b/lib/test_kmod.c
@@ -1149,6 +1149,7 @@ static struct kmod_test_device *register_test_dev_kmod(void)
 	if (ret) {
 		pr_err("could not register misc device: %d\n", ret);
 		free_test_dev_kmod(test_dev);
+		test_dev = NULL;
 		goto out;
 	}