diff --git a/src/afs/afs_disconnected.c b/src/afs/afs_disconnected.c
index db244bf3d6..46a665c9d1 100644
--- a/src/afs/afs_disconnected.c
+++ b/src/afs/afs_disconnected.c
@@ -531,8 +531,10 @@ afs_GetParentVCache(struct vcache *avc, int deleted, struct VenusFid *afid,
     }
 
 end:
-    if (code && *adp)
+    if (code && *adp) {
 	afs_PutVCache(*adp);
+	*adp = NULL;
+    }
     return code;
 }