diff --git a/net/tipc/group.c b/net/tipc/group.c
index 89257e2a980d..f53871baa42e 100644
--- a/net/tipc/group.c
+++ b/net/tipc/group.c
@@ -273,8 +273,8 @@ static struct tipc_member *tipc_group_find_node(struct tipc_group *grp,
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-static void tipc_group_add_to_tree(struct tipc_group *grp,
-				   struct tipc_member *m)
+static int tipc_group_add_to_tree(struct tipc_group *grp,
+				  struct tipc_member *m)
 {
 	u64 nkey, key = (u64)m->node << 32 | m->port;
 	struct rb_node **n, *parent = NULL;
@@ -291,10 +291,11 @@ static void tipc_group_add_to_tree(struct tipc_group *grp,
 		else if (key > nkey)
 			n = &(*n)->rb_right;
 		else
-			return;
+			return -EEXIST;
 	}
 	rb_link_node(&m->tree_node, parent, n);
 	rb_insert_color(&m->tree_node, &grp->members);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static struct tipc_member *tipc_group_create_member(struct tipc_group *grp,
@@ -302,6 +303,7 @@ static struct tipc_member *tipc_group_create_member(struct tipc_group *grp,
 						    u32 instance, int state)
 {
 	struct tipc_member *m;
+	int ret;
 
 	m = kzalloc(sizeof(*m), GFP_ATOMIC);
 	if (!m)
@@ -314,8 +316,12 @@ static struct tipc_member *tipc_group_create_member(struct tipc_group *grp,
 	m->port = port;
 	m->instance = instance;
 	m->bc_acked = grp->bc_snd_nxt - 1;
+	ret = tipc_group_add_to_tree(grp, m);
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		kfree(m);
+		return NULL;
+	}
 	grp->member_cnt++;
-	tipc_group_add_to_tree(grp, m);
 	tipc_nlist_add(&grp->dests, m->node);
 	m->state = state;
 	return m;