diff --git a/crypto/algapi.c b/crypto/algapi.c
index 2154815201a724f473d67c18d7ade8bd2cbdc5e3..6a98076d9d2a2eae84ab853ee25c63baa8fd66f6 100644
--- a/crypto/algapi.c
+++ b/crypto/algapi.c
@@ -507,6 +507,9 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(crypto_init_spawn2);
 
 void crypto_drop_spawn(struct crypto_spawn *spawn)
 {
+	if (!spawn->alg)
+		return;
+
 	down_write(&crypto_alg_sem);
 	list_del(&spawn->list);
 	up_write(&crypto_alg_sem);