diff --git a/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt_identity.c b/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt_identity.c
index ebc8e3af1c67..77d4aa57fd35 100644
--- a/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt_identity.c
+++ b/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt_identity.c
@@ -579,7 +579,8 @@ void __init sme_enable(struct boot_params *bp)
 	cmdline_ptr = (const char *)((u64)bp->hdr.cmd_line_ptr |
 				     ((u64)bp->ext_cmd_line_ptr << 32));
 
-	cmdline_find_option(cmdline_ptr, cmdline_arg, buffer, sizeof(buffer));
+	if (cmdline_find_option(cmdline_ptr, cmdline_arg, buffer, sizeof(buffer)) < 0)
+		return;
 
 	if (!strncmp(buffer, cmdline_on, sizeof(buffer)))
 		sme_me_mask = me_mask;