diff --git a/lib/nvme/nvme_tcp.c b/lib/nvme/nvme_tcp.c
index c0c47d702f..6738295c5d 100644
--- a/lib/nvme/nvme_tcp.c
+++ b/lib/nvme/nvme_tcp.c
@@ -1761,6 +1761,7 @@ struct spdk_nvme_ctrlr *nvme_tcp_ctrlr_construct(const struct spdk_nvme_transpor
 			       SPDK_NVMF_MIN_ADMIN_QUEUE_ENTRIES, 0, SPDK_NVMF_MIN_ADMIN_QUEUE_ENTRIES);
 	if (!tctrlr->ctrlr.adminq) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("failed to create admin qpair\n");
+		nvme_ctrlr_destruct(&tctrlr->ctrlr);
 		return NULL;
 	}