diff --git a/firmware/lib/vboot_api_kernel.c b/firmware/lib/vboot_api_kernel.c
index ced9b71f23..61cbb910bd 100644
--- a/firmware/lib/vboot_api_kernel.c
+++ b/firmware/lib/vboot_api_kernel.c
@@ -703,6 +703,7 @@ VbError_t VbSelectAndLoadKernel(VbCommonParams* cparams,
 
 VbSelectAndLoadKernel_exit:
 
+  VbNvTeardown(&vnc);
   if (vnc.raw_changed)
     VbExNvStorageWrite(vnc.raw);