diff --git a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c
index e93846f8f235..4cbfe1858ab4 100644
--- a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c
+++ b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_ssif.c
@@ -1910,6 +1910,7 @@ static int ssif_probe(struct i2c_client *client, const struct i2c_device_id *id)
 					"kssif%4.4x", thread_num);
 	if (IS_ERR(ssif_info->thread)) {
 		rv = PTR_ERR(ssif_info->thread);
+		ssif_info->thread = NULL;
 		dev_notice(&ssif_info->client->dev,
 			   "Could not start kernel thread: error %d\n",
 			   rv);