diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
index bbd5888e316b..ba743542babc 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ static int r871xu_drv_init(struct usb_interface *pusb_intf,
 error:
 	usb_put_dev(udev);
 	usb_set_intfdata(pusb_intf, NULL);
-	if (padapter->dvobj_deinit != NULL)
+	if (padapter && padapter->dvobj_deinit != NULL)
 		padapter->dvobj_deinit(padapter);
 	if (pnetdev)
 		free_netdev(pnetdev);