diff --git a/drivers/staging/media/tegra-video/csi.c b/drivers/staging/media/tegra-video/csi.c
index b26e44adb2be..6b59ef55c525 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/media/tegra-video/csi.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/media/tegra-video/csi.c
@@ -448,6 +448,7 @@ static int tegra_csi_channel_alloc(struct tegra_csi *csi,
 	chan->mipi = tegra_mipi_request(csi->dev, node);
 	if (IS_ERR(chan->mipi)) {
 		ret = PTR_ERR(chan->mipi);
+		chan->mipi = NULL;
 		dev_err(csi->dev, "failed to get mipi device: %d\n", ret);
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/staging/media/tegra-video/csi.h b/drivers/staging/media/tegra-video/csi.h
index 4ee05a1785cf..6960ea2e3d36 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/media/tegra-video/csi.h
+++ b/drivers/staging/media/tegra-video/csi.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ struct tegra_csi;
  * @framerate: active framerate for TPG
  * @h_blank: horizontal blanking for TPG active format
  * @v_blank: vertical blanking for TPG active format
- * @mipi: mipi device for corresponding csi channel pads
+ * @mipi: mipi device for corresponding csi channel pads, or NULL if not applicable (TPG, error)
  * @pixel_rate: active pixel rate from the sensor on this channel
  */
 struct tegra_csi_channel {