diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
index 81ed8e8bab3f..1ea9bbcc7c24 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
@@ -4597,6 +4597,8 @@ static bool nfsd_breaker_owns_lease(struct file_lock *fl)
 	if (!i_am_nfsd())
 		return NULL;
 	rqst = kthread_data(current);
+	if (!rqst->rq_lease_breaker)
+		return NULL;
 	clp = *(rqst->rq_lease_breaker);
 	return dl->dl_stid.sc_client == clp;
 }