diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-era-target.c b/drivers/md/dm-era-target.c
index 18aed0e2a508..cef288194804 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-era-target.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-era-target.c
@@ -810,8 +810,10 @@ static struct era_metadata *metadata_open(struct block_device *bdev,
 	int r;
 	struct era_metadata *md = kzalloc_obj(*md);
 
-	if (!md)
-		return NULL;
+	if (!md) {
+		DMERR("could not allocate metadata struct");
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
+	}
 
 	md->bdev = bdev;
 	md->block_size = block_size;