diff --git a/fs/incfs/vfs.c b/fs/incfs/vfs.c
index fd43e0e0ffbb..e8b72f760f94 100644
--- a/fs/incfs/vfs.c
+++ b/fs/incfs/vfs.c
@@ -1482,6 +1482,7 @@ static struct dentry *dir_lookup(struct inode *dir_inode, struct dentry *dentry,
 		err = IS_ERR(backing_dentry)
 			? PTR_ERR(backing_dentry)
 			: -EFAULT;
+		backing_dentry = NULL;
 		goto out;
 	} else {
 		struct inode *inode = NULL;