diff --git a/net/mpls/af_mpls.c b/net/mpls/af_mpls.c
index 35b5f806fdda..dc5165d3eec4 100644
--- a/net/mpls/af_mpls.c
+++ b/net/mpls/af_mpls.c
@@ -1428,6 +1428,7 @@ static int mpls_dev_sysctl_register(struct net_device *dev,
 free:
 	kfree(table);
 out:
+	mdev->sysctl = NULL;
 	return -ENOBUFS;
 }
 
@@ -1437,6 +1438,9 @@ static void mpls_dev_sysctl_unregister(struct net_device *dev,
 	struct net *net = dev_net(dev);
 	struct ctl_table *table;
 
+	if (!mdev->sysctl)
+		return;
+
 	table = mdev->sysctl->ctl_table_arg;
 	unregister_net_sysctl_table(mdev->sysctl);
 	kfree(table);