diff --git a/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c b/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c
index 435f03b8091..4e789311fee 100644
--- a/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c
+++ b/src/backend/postmaster/postmaster.c
@@ -1917,7 +1917,7 @@ ConnCreate(int serverFd)
 		if (port->sock >= 0)
 			StreamClose(port->sock);
 		ConnFree(port);
-		port = NULL;
+		return NULL;
 	}
 	else
 	{