diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/auth.c b/drivers/nvme/target/auth.c
index b34610e2f19d..723b6d5604c1 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/auth.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/auth.c
@@ -229,9 +229,6 @@ u8 nvmet_setup_auth(struct nvmet_ctrl *ctrl, struct nvmet_sq *sq, bool reset)
 void nvmet_auth_sq_free(struct nvmet_sq *sq)
 {
 	cancel_delayed_work(&sq->auth_expired_work);
-#ifdef CONFIG_NVME_TARGET_TCP_TLS
-	sq->tls_key = NULL;
-#endif
 	kfree(sq->dhchap_c1);
 	sq->dhchap_c1 = NULL;
 	kfree(sq->dhchap_c2);