diff --git a/drivers/gpio/gpio-sim.c b/drivers/gpio/gpio-sim.c
index 44bf1709a648..a8e5ac95cf17 100644
--- a/drivers/gpio/gpio-sim.c
+++ b/drivers/gpio/gpio-sim.c
@@ -1438,10 +1438,10 @@ static const struct config_item_type gpio_sim_device_config_group_type = {
 static struct config_group *
 gpio_sim_config_make_device_group(struct config_group *group, const char *name)
 {
-	struct gpio_sim_device *dev __free(kfree) = NULL;
 	int id;
 
-	dev = kzalloc(sizeof(*dev), GFP_KERNEL);
+	struct gpio_sim_device *dev __free(kfree) = kzalloc(sizeof(*dev),
+							    GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!dev)
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);