diff --git a/sys/dev/ae/if_ae.c b/sys/dev/ae/if_ae.c
index d3e95ef1eb8..68181f4b6d4 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ae/if_ae.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ae/if_ae.c
@@ -367,6 +367,7 @@ ae_attach(device_t dev)
 	if (ifp == NULL) {
 		device_printf(dev, "could not allocate ifnet structure.\n");
 		error = ENXIO;
+		goto fail;
 	}
 
 	ifp->if_softc = sc;