diff --git a/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/bg96.c b/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/bg96.c
index af8e16a754..de3a93f19e 100644
--- a/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/bg96.c
+++ b/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/bg96.c
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ modem_dce_t *bg96_init(modem_dte_t *dte)
     return &(esp_modem_dce->parent);
 err_io:
     free(esp_modem_dce);
+    dte->dce = NULL;
 err:
     return NULL;
 }
diff --git a/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/sim800.c b/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/sim800.c
index d0a80c6f52..f4a3d90e59 100644
--- a/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/sim800.c
+++ b/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/sim800.c
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ modem_dce_t *sim800_init(modem_dte_t *dte)
     return &(esp_modem_dce->parent);
 err_io:
     free(esp_modem_dce);
+    dte->dce = NULL;
 err:
     return NULL;
 }