diff --git a/drivers/ata/libata-core.c b/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
index 3717ed6fcccc21..467fc8002c447a 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
@@ -5366,6 +5366,9 @@ static void ata_host_release(struct kref *kref)
 	for (i = 0; i < host->n_ports; i++) {
 		struct ata_port *ap = host->ports[i];
 
+		if (!ap)
+			continue;
+
 		kfree(ap->pmp_link);
 		kfree(ap->slave_link);
 		kfree(ap);