diff --git a/src/idc/idc.c b/src/idc/idc.c
index bafa44299073..65c614896dd7 100644
--- a/src/idc/idc.c
+++ b/src/idc/idc.c
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ static int idc_prepare(uint32_t comp_id)
 					    dev->ipc_config.core, 0);
 		if (ret < 0) {
 			sof_heap_free(dev->drv->user_heap, dev->task);
+			dev->task = NULL;
 			goto out;
 		}
 	}