diff --git a/fs/cifs/smb2pdu.c b/fs/cifs/smb2pdu.c
index 2c484d47c592..727f16b426be 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/smb2pdu.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/smb2pdu.c
@@ -1482,8 +1482,11 @@ SMB2_auth_kerberos(struct SMB2_sess_data *sess_data)
 out_put_spnego_key:
 	key_invalidate(spnego_key);
 	key_put(spnego_key);
-	if (rc)
+	if (rc) {
 		kfree_sensitive(ses->auth_key.response);
+		ses->auth_key.response = NULL;
+		ses->auth_key.len = 0;
+	}
 out:
 	sess_data->result = rc;
 	sess_data->func = NULL;