diff --git a/net/can/af_can.c b/net/can/af_can.c
index c69168f11e44..7d8543e877b4 100644
--- a/net/can/af_can.c
+++ b/net/can/af_can.c
@@ -171,6 +171,7 @@ static int can_create(struct net *net, struct socket *sock, int protocol,
 		/* release sk on errors */
 		sock_orphan(sk);
 		sock_put(sk);
+		sock->sk = NULL;
 	}
 
  errout: