diff --git a/drivers/block/null_blk.c b/drivers/block/null_blk.c
index 4d55af5c6e5b..69dfa1d3f453 100644
--- a/drivers/block/null_blk.c
+++ b/drivers/block/null_blk.c
@@ -467,7 +467,6 @@ static void nullb_device_release(struct config_item *item)
 {
 	struct nullb_device *dev = to_nullb_device(item);
 
-	badblocks_exit(&dev->badblocks);
 	null_free_device_storage(dev, false);
 	null_free_dev(dev);
 }
@@ -578,6 +577,10 @@ static struct nullb_device *null_alloc_dev(void)
 
 static void null_free_dev(struct nullb_device *dev)
 {
+	if (!dev)
+		return;
+
+	badblocks_exit(&dev->badblocks);
 	kfree(dev);
 }