diff --git a/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c b/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c
index bb9789ef1d49..a4f2100fd9c2 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c
@@ -200,6 +200,8 @@ struct nfs_client *nfs4_init_client(struct nfs_client *clp,
 
 	__set_bit(NFS_CS_DISCRTRY, &clp->cl_flags);
 	error = nfs_create_rpc_client(clp, timeparms, RPC_AUTH_GSS_KRB5I);
+	if (error == -EINVAL)
+		error = nfs_create_rpc_client(clp, timeparms, RPC_AUTH_NULL);
 	if (error < 0)
 		goto error;