diff --git a/drivers/of/fdt.c b/drivers/of/fdt.c
index 1d30b9f964663d..53512467025735 100644
--- a/drivers/of/fdt.c
+++ b/drivers/of/fdt.c
@@ -992,15 +992,12 @@ bool __init early_init_dt_verify(void *params)
 	if (!params)
 		return false;
 
-	/* Setup flat device-tree pointer */
-	initial_boot_params = params;
-
 	/* check device tree validity */
-	if (fdt_check_header(params)) {
-		initial_boot_params = NULL;
+	if (fdt_check_header(params))
 		return false;
-	}
 
+	/* Setup flat device-tree pointer */
+	initial_boot_params = params;
 	return true;
 }