diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-snap-persistent.c b/drivers/md/dm-snap-persistent.c
index e86d929b0e95..b587ee733056 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-snap-persistent.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-snap-persistent.c
@@ -325,8 +325,11 @@ static int read_header(struct pstore *ps, int *new_snapshot)
 	}
 
 	ps->io_client = dm_io_client_create();
-	if (IS_ERR(ps->io_client))
-		return PTR_ERR(ps->io_client);
+	if (IS_ERR(ps->io_client)) {
+		r = PTR_ERR(ps->io_client);
+		ps->io_client = NULL;
+		return r;
+	}
 
 	r = alloc_area(ps);
 	if (r)