diff --git a/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_dma2d.c b/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_dma2d.c
index 5e5740e27b..db76245708 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_dma2d.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/stm32/stm32_dma2d.c
@@ -2069,6 +2069,7 @@ FAR struct dma2d_layer_s *up_dma2dcreatelayer(fb_coord_t width,
               /* free the layer struture */
 
               kmm_free(layer);
+              layer = NULL;
               lcderr("ERROR: ENOMEM, Unable to allocate layer buffer\n");
               errno = ENOMEM;
             }