diff --git a/net/sctp/sm_statefuns.c b/net/sctp/sm_statefuns.c
index a0524ba8d787..93cac73472c7 100644
--- a/net/sctp/sm_statefuns.c
+++ b/net/sctp/sm_statefuns.c
@@ -885,7 +885,8 @@ enum sctp_disposition sctp_sf_do_5_1D_ce(struct net *net,
 	return SCTP_DISPOSITION_CONSUME;
 
 nomem_authev:
-	sctp_ulpevent_free(ai_ev);
+	if (ai_ev)
+		sctp_ulpevent_free(ai_ev);
 nomem_aiev:
 	sctp_ulpevent_free(ev);
 nomem_ev: