diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/fabrics-cmd-auth.c b/drivers/nvme/target/fabrics-cmd-auth.c
index ff6b73cfe0f9..bc49b48cdd63 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/fabrics-cmd-auth.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/fabrics-cmd-auth.c
@@ -605,10 +605,11 @@ void nvmet_execute_auth_receive(struct nvmet_req *req)
 	switch (req->sq->dhchap_step) {
 	case NVME_AUTH_DHCHAP_MESSAGE_CHALLENGE:
 		if (nvmet_auth_challenge(req, d, al) < 0) {
-			pr_warn("ctrl %d qid %d: challenge error (%d)\n",
-				ctrl->cntlid, req->sq->qid, status);
+			pr_warn("ctrl %d qid %d: challenge error\n",
+				ctrl->cntlid, req->sq->qid);
 			status = NVME_SC_INTERNAL;
-			break;
+			kfree(d);
+			goto done;
 		}
 		req->sq->dhchap_step = NVME_AUTH_DHCHAP_MESSAGE_REPLY;
 		break;