diff --git a/net/nfc/core.c b/net/nfc/core.c
index 5cf33df888c3..c699d64a0753 100644
--- a/net/nfc/core.c
+++ b/net/nfc/core.c
@@ -1106,7 +1106,7 @@ struct nfc_dev *nfc_allocate_device(struct nfc_ops *ops,
 err_free_dev:
 	kfree(dev);
 
-	return ERR_PTR(rc);
+	return NULL;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(nfc_allocate_device);