diff --git a/net/rds/ib_cm.c b/net/rds/ib_cm.c
index 0c64c504f79d..4001de0c4959 100644
--- a/net/rds/ib_cm.c
+++ b/net/rds/ib_cm.c
@@ -656,6 +656,7 @@ static int rds_ib_setup_qp(struct rds_connection *conn)
 
 sends_out:
 	vfree(ic->i_sends);
+	ic->i_sends = NULL;
 
 ack_dma_out:
 	rds_dma_hdr_free(rds_ibdev->dev, ic->i_ack, ic->i_ack_dma,