diff --git a/servers/lloadd/operation.c b/servers/lloadd/operation.c
index 6621b4845d..56deb0ac65 100644
--- a/servers/lloadd/operation.c
+++ b/servers/lloadd/operation.c
@@ -843,5 +843,8 @@ fail:
     op->o_client_refcnt--;
     operation_destroy_from_client( op );
     CLIENT_UNLOCK_OR_DESTROY(client);
+    if ( !client ) {
+        rc = -1;
+    }
     return rc;
 }