diff --git a/sys/fs/nfsclient/nfs_clrpcops.c b/sys/fs/nfsclient/nfs_clrpcops.c
index e1bfa29d90bb..8a83802a7497 100644
--- a/sys/fs/nfsclient/nfs_clrpcops.c
+++ b/sys/fs/nfsclient/nfs_clrpcops.c
@@ -2153,8 +2153,10 @@ nfsrpc_createv4(vnode_t dvp, char *name, int namelen, struct vattr *vap,
 			    (void) nfs_catnap(PZERO, ret, "nfs_crt2");
 		    } while (ret == NFSERR_DELAY);
 		    if (ret) {
-			if (dp != NULL)
+			if (dp != NULL) {
 				FREE((caddr_t)dp, M_NFSCLDELEG);
+				dp = NULL;
+			}
 			if (ret == NFSERR_STALECLIENTID ||
 			    ret == NFSERR_STALEDONTRECOVER ||
 			    ret == NFSERR_BADSESSION)