diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index fb456cec34..48a45ef583 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -3132,6 +3132,7 @@ static void tcp_chr_tls_init(CharDriverState *chr)
     if (tioc == NULL) {
         error_free(err);
         tcp_chr_disconnect(chr);
+        return;
     }
     object_unref(OBJECT(s->ioc));
     s->ioc = QIO_CHANNEL(tioc);