diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c b/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c
index 151aa95775be..af6d4f898e4c 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-cache-metadata.c
@@ -537,12 +537,16 @@ static int __create_persistent_data_objects(struct dm_cache_metadata *cmd,
 					  CACHE_MAX_CONCURRENT_LOCKS);
 	if (IS_ERR(cmd->bm)) {
 		DMERR("could not create block manager");
-		return PTR_ERR(cmd->bm);
+		r = PTR_ERR(cmd->bm);
+		cmd->bm = NULL;
+		return r;
 	}
 
 	r = __open_or_format_metadata(cmd, may_format_device);
-	if (r)
+	if (r) {
 		dm_block_manager_destroy(cmd->bm);
+		cmd->bm = NULL;
+	}
 
 	return r;
 }