diff --git a/drivers/vfio/mdev/mdev_core.c b/drivers/vfio/mdev/mdev_core.c
index b96fedc77ee5..1299d2e72ce2 100644
--- a/drivers/vfio/mdev/mdev_core.c
+++ b/drivers/vfio/mdev/mdev_core.c
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ int mdev_register_device(struct device *dev, const struct mdev_parent_ops *ops)
 	/* Check for duplicate */
 	parent = __find_parent_device(dev);
 	if (parent) {
+		parent = NULL;
 		ret = -EEXIST;
 		goto add_dev_err;
 	}