diff --git a/drivers/mfd/88pm860x-core.c b/drivers/mfd/88pm860x-core.c
index 2461014a4ad5..bcfc9e85b4a0 100644
--- a/drivers/mfd/88pm860x-core.c
+++ b/drivers/mfd/88pm860x-core.c
@@ -1179,6 +1179,11 @@ static int pm860x_probe(struct i2c_client *client,
 		chip->companion_addr = pdata->companion_addr;
 		chip->companion = i2c_new_dummy(chip->client->adapter,
 						chip->companion_addr);
+		if (!chip->companion) {
+			dev_err(&client->dev,
+				"Failed to allocate I2C companion device\n");
+			return -ENODEV;
+		}
 		chip->regmap_companion = regmap_init_i2c(chip->companion,
 							&pm860x_regmap_config);
 		if (IS_ERR(chip->regmap_companion)) {