diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
index 3077cd4d75bf..cc09b81fc7f4 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
@@ -3305,7 +3305,7 @@ static int nvme_alloc_ns(struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl, unsigned nsid)
 		goto out_free_ns;
 	}
 
-	if (ctrl->opts->data_digest)
+	if (ctrl->opts && ctrl->opts->data_digest)
 		ns->queue->backing_dev_info->capabilities
 			|= BDI_CAP_STABLE_WRITES;