diff --git a/security/keys/big_key.c b/security/keys/big_key.c
index 5f9defc4a807268544cf9378d27f453f5a43d82a..2cf5e62d67afdf849c6208d55adb79cc5db7b2a4 100644
--- a/security/keys/big_key.c
+++ b/security/keys/big_key.c
@@ -71,8 +71,10 @@ int big_key_instantiate(struct key *key, struct key_preparsed_payload *prep)
 		 * TODO: Encrypt the stored data with a temporary key.
 		 */
 		file = shmem_file_setup("", datalen, 0);
-		if (IS_ERR(file))
+		if (IS_ERR(file)) {
+			ret = PTR_ERR(file);
 			goto err_quota;
+		}
 
 		written = kernel_write(file, prep->data, prep->datalen, 0);
 		if (written != datalen) {