diff --git a/tests/sys/netmap/ctrl-api-test.c b/tests/sys/netmap/ctrl-api-test.c
--- a/tests/sys/netmap/ctrl-api-test.c
+++ b/tests/sys/netmap/ctrl-api-test.c
@@ -1974,6 +1974,7 @@
 			ret = -1;
 		}
 	}
+	ctx->nmctx = NULL;
 	return ret;
 }