diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.c
index c7d0e195d176..5c06decc868c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/pensando/ionic/ionic_devlink.c
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ struct ionic *ionic_devlink_alloc(struct device *dev)
 	struct devlink *dl;
 
 	dl = devlink_alloc(&ionic_dl_ops, sizeof(struct ionic), dev);
+	if (!dl)
+		return NULL;
 
 	return devlink_priv(dl);
 }