diff --git a/drivers/mtd/devices/docg3.c b/drivers/mtd/devices/docg3.c
index 4c94fc096696..60ddc38a5431 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/devices/docg3.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/devices/docg3.c
@@ -1872,7 +1872,7 @@ doc_probe_device(struct docg3_cascade *cascade, int floor, struct device *dev)
 nomem2:
 	kfree(docg3);
 nomem1:
-	return ERR_PTR(ret);
+	return ret ? ERR_PTR(ret) : NULL;
 }
 
 /**