diff --git a/drivers/scsi/sym53c8xx_2/sym_glue.c b/drivers/scsi/sym53c8xx_2/sym_glue.c
index b4543f5..76432f8 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/sym53c8xx_2/sym_glue.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/sym53c8xx_2/sym_glue.c
@@ -839,6 +839,10 @@ static void sym53c8xx_slave_destroy(struct scsi_device *sdev)
 	struct sym_lcb *lp = sym_lp(tp, sdev->lun);
 	unsigned long flags;
 
+	/* if slave_alloc returned before allocating an LCB, return */
+	if (!lp)
+		return;
+
 	spin_lock_irqsave(np->s.host->host_lock, flags);
 
 	if (lp->busy_itlq || lp->busy_itl) {