diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/loop.c b/drivers/nvme/target/loop.c
index 1eee21310deee7d86cba53f1269f4085ffcf819f..a8d15fd6ebe9de6154a202df3d5e2e4aeefe8a3f 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/loop.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/loop.c
@@ -607,8 +607,10 @@ static struct nvme_ctrl *nvme_loop_create_ctrl(struct device *dev,
 
 	ret = nvme_init_ctrl(&ctrl->ctrl, dev, &nvme_loop_ctrl_ops,
 				0 /* no quirks, we're perfect! */);
-	if (ret)
+	if (ret) {
+		kfree(ctrl);
 		goto out_put_ctrl;
+	}
 
 	ret = -ENOMEM;