diff --git a/drivers/usb/host/max3421-hcd.c b/drivers/usb/host/max3421-hcd.c
index 5a21777197e9..cfdbe90f867e 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/host/max3421-hcd.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/host/max3421-hcd.c
@@ -1925,7 +1925,7 @@ error:
 	if (hcd) {
 		kfree(max3421_hcd->tx);
 		kfree(max3421_hcd->rx);
-		if (max3421_hcd->spi_thread)
+		if (!IS_ERR_OR_NULL(max3421_hcd->spi_thread))
 			kthread_stop(max3421_hcd->spi_thread);
 		usb_put_hcd(hcd);
 	}