diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c b/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c
index a184c9830ca5..62eb4b7caff3 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c
@@ -1262,8 +1262,8 @@ static int __load_mappings(struct dm_cache_metadata *cmd,
 		if (hints_valid) {
 			r = dm_array_cursor_next(&cmd->hint_cursor);
 			if (r) {
-				DMERR("dm_array_cursor_next for hint failed");
-				goto out;
+				dm_array_cursor_end(&cmd->hint_cursor);
+				hints_valid = false;
 			}
 		}
 	}