diff --git a/fs/ecryptfs/keystore.c b/fs/ecryptfs/keystore.c
index c1436cff6f2d..4feb78c23651 100644
--- a/fs/ecryptfs/keystore.c
+++ b/fs/ecryptfs/keystore.c
@@ -1563,6 +1563,7 @@ int ecryptfs_keyring_auth_tok_for_sig(struct key **auth_tok_key,
 		printk(KERN_ERR "Could not find key with description: [%s]\n",
 		       sig);
 		rc = process_request_key_err(PTR_ERR(*auth_tok_key));
+		(*auth_tok_key) = NULL;
 		goto out;
 	}
 	(*auth_tok) = ecryptfs_get_key_payload_data(*auth_tok_key);