diff --git a/drivers/firmware/cirrus/cs_dsp.c b/drivers/firmware/cirrus/cs_dsp.c
index ee4c32669607..68005cce0136 100644
--- a/drivers/firmware/cirrus/cs_dsp.c
+++ b/drivers/firmware/cirrus/cs_dsp.c
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ void cs_dsp_cleanup_debugfs(struct cs_dsp *dsp)
 {
 	cs_dsp_debugfs_clear(dsp);
 	debugfs_remove_recursive(dsp->debugfs_root);
-	dsp->debugfs_root = NULL;
+	dsp->debugfs_root = ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(cs_dsp_cleanup_debugfs);
 #else
@@ -2300,6 +2300,11 @@ static int cs_dsp_common_init(struct cs_dsp *dsp)
 
 	mutex_init(&dsp->pwr_lock);
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS
+	/* Ensure this is invalid if client never provides a debugfs root */
+	dsp->debugfs_root = ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
+#endif
+
 	return 0;
 }