diff --git a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_si_intf.c b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_si_intf.c
index ad353be871bf..90ec010bffbd 100644
--- a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_si_intf.c
+++ b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_si_intf.c
@@ -2088,8 +2088,10 @@ static int try_smi_init(struct smi_info *new_smi)
 	return 0;
 
 out_err:
-	ipmi_unregister_smi(new_smi->intf);
-	new_smi->intf = NULL;
+	if (new_smi->intf) {
+		ipmi_unregister_smi(new_smi->intf);
+		new_smi->intf = NULL;
+	}
 
 	kfree(init_name);