diff --git a/net/sysctl_net.c b/net/sysctl_net.c
index e7000be321b0..ed98c1fc3de1 100644
--- a/net/sysctl_net.c
+++ b/net/sysctl_net.c
@@ -94,10 +94,14 @@ __init int net_sysctl_init(void)
 		goto out;
 	ret = register_pernet_subsys(&sysctl_pernet_ops);
 	if (ret)
-		goto out;
+		goto out1;
 	register_sysctl_root(&net_sysctl_root);
 out:
 	return ret;
+out1:
+	unregister_sysctl_table(net_header);
+	net_header = NULL;
+	goto out;
 }
 
 struct ctl_table_header *register_net_sysctl(struct net *net,