diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/core/cm.c b/drivers/infiniband/core/cm.c
index c903b74f46a4..35f0d5e7533d 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/core/cm.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/core/cm.c
@@ -3322,7 +3322,7 @@ static int cm_lap_handler(struct cm_work *work)
 	ret = cm_init_av_by_path(param->alternate_path, NULL, &alt_av);
 	if (ret) {
 		rdma_destroy_ah_attr(&ah_attr);
-		return -EINVAL;
+		goto deref;
 	}
 
 	spin_lock_irq(&cm_id_priv->lock);