diff --git a/fs/ecryptfs/crypto.c b/fs/ecryptfs/crypto.c
index 136175a69332..f63a7755fe86 100644
--- a/fs/ecryptfs/crypto.c
+++ b/fs/ecryptfs/crypto.c
@@ -820,7 +820,8 @@ int ecryptfs_init_crypt_ctx(struct ecryptfs_crypt_stat *crypt_stat)
 	crypt_stat->tfm = crypto_alloc_blkcipher(full_alg_name, 0,
 						 CRYPTO_ALG_ASYNC);
 	kfree(full_alg_name);
-	if (!crypt_stat->tfm) {
+	if (IS_ERR(crypt_stat->tfm)) {
+		rc = PTR_ERR(crypt_stat->tfm);
 		ecryptfs_printk(KERN_ERR, "cryptfs: init_crypt_ctx(): "
 				"Error initializing cipher [%s]\n",
 				crypt_stat->cipher);