diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/panfrost/panfrost_drv.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/panfrost/panfrost_drv.c
index 94b0819ad50b..d11e2281dde6 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/panfrost/panfrost_drv.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/panfrost/panfrost_drv.c
@@ -219,7 +219,8 @@ static int panfrost_ioctl_submit(struct drm_device *dev, void *data,
 fail_job:
 	panfrost_job_put(job);
 fail_out_sync:
-	drm_syncobj_put(sync_out);
+	if (sync_out)
+		drm_syncobj_put(sync_out);
 
 	return ret;
 }