diff --git a/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_sync.c b/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_sync.c
index effa10c9e4e..44fd10c539a 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_sync.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_sync.c
@@ -1795,6 +1795,8 @@ int start_sync_thread(struct net *net, int state, char *mcast_ifn, __u8 syncid)
 					     GFP_KERNEL);
 			if (!tinfo->buf)
 				goto outtinfo;
+		} else {
+			tinfo->buf = NULL;
 		}
 		tinfo->id = id;