diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
index e406c3cf55bc..d6186208abf9 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
@@ -4394,7 +4394,7 @@ static void nvme_free_ctrl(struct device *dev)
 	struct nvme_subsystem *subsys = ctrl->subsys;
 	struct nvme_cel *cel, *next;
 
-	if (subsys && ctrl->instance != subsys->instance)
+	if (!subsys || ctrl->instance != subsys->instance)
 		ida_simple_remove(&nvme_instance_ida, ctrl->instance);
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(cel, next, &ctrl->cels, entry) {