diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_surface.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_surface.c
index 64b50409fa07..03f63c749c02 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_surface.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_surface.c
@@ -657,7 +657,8 @@ static void vmw_user_surface_base_release(struct ttm_base_object **p_base)
 	struct vmw_resource *res = &user_srf->srf.res;
 
 	*p_base = NULL;
-	ttm_base_object_unref(&user_srf->backup_base);
+	if (user_srf->backup_base)
+		ttm_base_object_unref(&user_srf->backup_base);
 	vmw_resource_unreference(&res);
 }