diff --git a/net/smc/smc_core.c b/net/smc/smc_core.c
index a6ac0eb20c99..a406627b1d55 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_core.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_core.c
@@ -1779,6 +1779,7 @@ int smc_buf_create(struct smc_sock *smc, bool is_smcd)
 		list_del(&smc->conn.sndbuf_desc->list);
 		mutex_unlock(&smc->conn.lgr->sndbufs_lock);
 		smc_buf_free(smc->conn.lgr, false, smc->conn.sndbuf_desc);
+		smc->conn.sndbuf_desc = NULL;
 	}
 	return rc;
 }