diff --git a/net/ipv4/tcp_ao.c b/net/ipv4/tcp_ao.c
index 37c42b63ff99..09c0fa6756b7 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/tcp_ao.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/tcp_ao.c
@@ -1968,8 +1968,10 @@ static int tcp_ao_info_cmd(struct sock *sk, unsigned short int family,
 		first = true;
 	}
 
-	if (cmd.ao_required && tcp_ao_required_verify(sk))
-		return -EKEYREJECTED;
+	if (cmd.ao_required && tcp_ao_required_verify(sk)) {
+		err = -EKEYREJECTED;
+		goto out;
+	}
 
 	/* For sockets in TCP_CLOSED it's possible set keys that aren't
 	 * matching the future peer (address/port/VRF/etc),