diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
index 56999cbe84a7..43e66fc1b90d 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
@@ -2496,8 +2496,10 @@ nfsd4_create_session(struct svc_rqst *rqstp,
 		old = find_confirmed_client_by_name(&unconf->cl_name, nn);
 		if (old) {
 			status = mark_client_expired_locked(old);
-			if (status)
+			if (status) {
+				old = NULL;
 				goto out_free_conn;
+			}
 		}
 		move_to_confirmed(unconf);
 		conf = unconf;
@@ -3041,8 +3043,10 @@ nfsd4_setclientid_confirm(struct svc_rqst *rqstp,
 		old = find_confirmed_client_by_name(&unconf->cl_name, nn);
 		if (old) {
 			status = mark_client_expired_locked(old);
-			if (status)
+			if (status) {
+				old = NULL;
 				goto out;
+			}
 		}
 		move_to_confirmed(unconf);
 		conf = unconf;