diff --git a/fs/btrfs/backref.c b/fs/btrfs/backref.c
index 2973d256bb44..bb008ac507fe 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/backref.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/backref.c
@@ -1550,6 +1550,7 @@ static int __btrfs_find_all_roots(struct btrfs_trans_handle *trans,
 		if (ret < 0 && ret != -ENOENT) {
 			ulist_free(tmp);
 			ulist_free(*roots);
+			*roots = NULL;
 			return ret;
 		}
 		node = ulist_next(tmp, &uiter);