diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/nxp/nxpwifi/cfg80211.c b/drivers/net/wireless/nxp/nxpwifi/cfg80211.c
index 3221ae167c58..473e81304ca8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/nxp/nxpwifi/cfg80211.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/nxp/nxpwifi/cfg80211.c
@@ -3416,6 +3416,8 @@ nxpwifi_cfg80211_authenticate(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 	pkt_len = frame_len + ETH_ALEN;
 
 	mgmt = kzalloc(frame_len, GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (!mgmt)
+		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	skb = dev_alloc_skb(NXPWIFI_MIN_DATA_HEADER_LEN +
 			    NXPWIFI_MGMT_FRAME_HEADER_SIZE +
@@ -3423,6 +3425,7 @@ nxpwifi_cfg80211_authenticate(struct wiphy *wiphy,
 	if (!skb) {
 		nxpwifi_dbg(adapter, ERROR,
 			    "allocate skb failed for management frame\n");
+		kfree(mgmt);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}