diff --git a/io_uring/io_uring.c b/io_uring/io_uring.c
index 415248c1f82c..68f1b6f8699a 100644
--- a/io_uring/io_uring.c
+++ b/io_uring/io_uring.c
@@ -1978,6 +1978,13 @@ static void io_init_req_drain(struct io_kiocb *req)
 	}
 }
 
+static __cold int io_init_fail_req(struct io_kiocb *req, int err)
+{
+	/* ensure per-opcode data is cleared if we fail before prep */
+	memset(&req->cmd.data, 0, sizeof(req->cmd.data));
+	return err;
+}
+
 static int io_init_req(struct io_ring_ctx *ctx, struct io_kiocb *req,
 		       const struct io_uring_sqe *sqe)
 	__must_hold(&ctx->uring_lock)
@@ -1998,29 +2005,29 @@ static int io_init_req(struct io_ring_ctx *ctx, struct io_kiocb *req,
 
 	if (unlikely(opcode >= IORING_OP_LAST)) {
 		req->opcode = 0;
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return io_init_fail_req(req, -EINVAL);
 	}
 	def = &io_op_defs[opcode];
 	if (unlikely(sqe_flags & ~SQE_COMMON_FLAGS)) {
 		/* enforce forwards compatibility on users */
 		if (sqe_flags & ~SQE_VALID_FLAGS)
-			return -EINVAL;
+			return io_init_fail_req(req, -EINVAL);
 		if (sqe_flags & IOSQE_BUFFER_SELECT) {
 			if (!def->buffer_select)
-				return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+				return io_init_fail_req(req, -EOPNOTSUPP);
 			req->buf_index = READ_ONCE(sqe->buf_group);
 		}
 		if (sqe_flags & IOSQE_CQE_SKIP_SUCCESS)
 			ctx->drain_disabled = true;
 		if (sqe_flags & IOSQE_IO_DRAIN) {
 			if (ctx->drain_disabled)
-				return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+				return io_init_fail_req(req, -EOPNOTSUPP);
 			io_init_req_drain(req);
 		}
 	}
 	if (unlikely(ctx->restricted || ctx->drain_active || ctx->drain_next)) {
 		if (ctx->restricted && !io_check_restriction(ctx, req, sqe_flags))
-			return -EACCES;
+			return io_init_fail_req(req, -EACCES);
 		/* knock it to the slow queue path, will be drained there */
 		if (ctx->drain_active)
 			req->flags |= REQ_F_FORCE_ASYNC;
@@ -2033,9 +2040,9 @@ static int io_init_req(struct io_ring_ctx *ctx, struct io_kiocb *req,
 	}
 
 	if (!def->ioprio && sqe->ioprio)
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return io_init_fail_req(req, -EINVAL);
 	if (!def->iopoll && (ctx->flags & IORING_SETUP_IOPOLL))
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return io_init_fail_req(req, -EINVAL);
 
 	if (def->needs_file) {
 		struct io_submit_state *state = &ctx->submit_state;
@@ -2059,12 +2066,12 @@ static int io_init_req(struct io_ring_ctx *ctx, struct io_kiocb *req,
 
 		req->creds = xa_load(&ctx->personalities, personality);
 		if (!req->creds)
-			return -EINVAL;
+			return io_init_fail_req(req, -EINVAL);
 		get_cred(req->creds);
 		ret = security_uring_override_creds(req->creds);
 		if (ret) {
 			put_cred(req->creds);
-			return ret;
+			return io_init_fail_req(req, ret);
 		}
 		req->flags |= REQ_F_CREDS;
 	}