diff --git a/dlls/rpcrt4/rpcss_np_client.c b/dlls/rpcrt4/rpcss_np_client.c
index 567277ee868..78d675e3c26 100644
--- a/dlls/rpcrt4/rpcss_np_client.c
+++ b/dlls/rpcrt4/rpcss_np_client.c
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ HANDLE RPCRT4_RpcssNPConnect(void)
     if (! WaitNamedPipeA(NAME_RPCSS_NAMED_PIPE, MASTER_MUTEX_WAITNAMEDPIPE_TIMEOUT))
     {
       ERR("Named pipe unavailable after waiting.  Something is probably wrong.\n");
-      return NULL;
+      the_pipe = NULL;
+      break;
     }
 
   }