diff --git a/src/modules/alsa/alsa-sink.c b/src/modules/alsa/alsa-sink.c
index 2fbcd7bef..360cb4d50 100644
--- a/src/modules/alsa/alsa-sink.c
+++ b/src/modules/alsa/alsa-sink.c
@@ -1770,7 +1770,8 @@ pa_sink *pa_alsa_sink_new(pa_module *m, pa_modargs *ma, const char*driver, pa_ca
 
 fail:
 
-    userdata_free(u);
+    if (u)
+        userdata_free(u);
 
     return NULL;
 }
diff --git a/src/modules/alsa/alsa-source.c b/src/modules/alsa/alsa-source.c
index c59fc75f4..19c6cfcde 100644
--- a/src/modules/alsa/alsa-source.c
+++ b/src/modules/alsa/alsa-source.c
@@ -1621,7 +1621,8 @@ pa_source *pa_alsa_source_new(pa_module *m, pa_modargs *ma, const char*driver, p
 
 fail:
 
-    userdata_free(u);
+    if (u)
+        userdata_free(u);
 
     return NULL;
 }