diff --git a/net/rds/rdma.c b/net/rds/rdma.c
index a4e3c5de998b..00dbcd4d28e6 100644
--- a/net/rds/rdma.c
+++ b/net/rds/rdma.c
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ static int __rds_rdma_map(struct rds_sock *rs, struct rds_get_mr_args *args,
 		}
 		ret = PTR_ERR(trans_private);
 		/* Trigger connection so that its ready for the next retry */
-		if (ret == -ENODEV)
+		if (ret == -ENODEV && cp)
 			rds_conn_connect_if_down(cp->cp_conn);
 		goto out;
 	}