diff --git a/fs/orangefs/dcache.c b/fs/orangefs/dcache.c
index fe484cf93e5c..8bbe9486e3a6 100644
--- a/fs/orangefs/dcache.c
+++ b/fs/orangefs/dcache.c
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ static int orangefs_revalidate_lookup(struct dentry *dentry)
 	gossip_debug(GOSSIP_DCACHE_DEBUG, "%s: attempting lookup.\n", __func__);
 
 	new_op = op_alloc(ORANGEFS_VFS_OP_LOOKUP);
-	if (!new_op)
+	if (!new_op) {
+		ret = -ENOMEM;
 		goto out_put_parent;
+	}
 
 	new_op->upcall.req.lookup.sym_follow = ORANGEFS_LOOKUP_LINK_NO_FOLLOW;
 	new_op->upcall.req.lookup.parent_refn = parent->refn;