diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c
index e6c7448d3d89..8ca4c12dd22e 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4callback.c
@@ -1134,6 +1134,8 @@ static void nfsd4_process_cb_update(struct nfsd4_callback *cb)
 		ses = c->cn_session;
 	}
 	spin_unlock(&clp->cl_lock);
+	if (!c)
+		return;
 
 	err = setup_callback_client(clp, &conn, ses);
 	if (err) {