diff --git a/crypto/algapi.c b/crypto/algapi.c
index f3d766312bd9..713baabeb643 100644
--- a/crypto/algapi.c
+++ b/crypto/algapi.c
@@ -608,6 +608,9 @@ int crypto_init_spawn(struct crypto_spawn *spawn, struct crypto_alg *alg,
 {
 	int err = -EAGAIN;
 
+	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(inst == NULL))
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	spawn->inst = inst;
 	spawn->mask = mask;