diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
index 72900b8..3206373 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
@@ -4130,8 +4130,10 @@ nfsd4_setclientid_confirm(struct svc_rqst *rqstp,
 			status = nfserr_clid_inuse;
 			if (client_has_state(old)
 					&& !same_creds(&unconf->cl_cred,
-							&old->cl_cred))
+							&old->cl_cred)) {
+				old = NULL;
 				goto out;
+			}
 			status = mark_client_expired_locked(old);
 			if (status) {
 				old = NULL;