diff --git a/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c b/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c
index bd0aeaf3aa7..e58d1ecd23f 100644
--- a/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c
+++ b/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c
@@ -1789,7 +1789,7 @@ ConnCreate(int serverFd)
 		if (port->sock >= 0)
 			StreamClose(port->sock);
 		ConnFree(port);
-		port = NULL;
+		return NULL;
 	}
 	else
 	{