diff --git a/drivers/block/loop.c b/drivers/block/loop.c
index 74bf0255e98f..9c3b94e8f03b 100644
--- a/drivers/block/loop.c
+++ b/drivers/block/loop.c
@@ -839,7 +839,9 @@ static int loop_set_fd(struct loop_device *lo, struct file *lo_file,
 
 	set_blocksize(bdev, lo_blocksize);
 
-	kernel_thread(loop_thread, lo, CLONE_KERNEL);
+	error = kernel_thread(loop_thread, lo, CLONE_KERNEL);
+	if (error < 0)
+		goto out_putf;
 	wait_for_completion(&lo->lo_done);
 	return 0;