diff --git a/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/papr_scm.c b/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/papr_scm.c
index 0c091622b15eed3fb3005bb11b88aafab53d195e..692ad3d79826e2feeb3e367b29f1dc76e578b6b8 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/papr_scm.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/papr_scm.c
@@ -355,11 +355,16 @@ static int papr_scm_ndctl(struct nvdimm_bus_descriptor *nd_desc,
 {
 	struct nd_cmd_get_config_size *get_size_hdr;
 	struct papr_scm_priv *p;
+	int rc;
 
 	/* Only dimm-specific calls are supported atm */
 	if (!nvdimm)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
+	/* Use a local variable in case cmd_rc pointer is NULL */
+	if (!cmd_rc)
+		cmd_rc = &rc;
+
 	p = nvdimm_provider_data(nvdimm);
 
 	switch (cmd) {
@@ -381,6 +386,7 @@ static int papr_scm_ndctl(struct nvdimm_bus_descriptor *nd_desc,
 		break;
 
 	default:
+		dev_dbg(&p->pdev->dev, "Unknown command = %d\n", cmd);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}