diff --git a/drivers/vhost/net.c b/drivers/vhost/net.c
index b0d606b2d06c..6123b4dd8638 100644
--- a/drivers/vhost/net.c
+++ b/drivers/vhost/net.c
@@ -1186,7 +1186,8 @@ err_used:
 	if (ubufs)
 		vhost_net_ubuf_put_wait_and_free(ubufs);
 err_ubufs:
-	sockfd_put(sock);
+	if (sock)
+		sockfd_put(sock);
 err_vq:
 	mutex_unlock(&vq->mutex);
 err: