diff --git a/cocci/null-the-pointer-early.spatch b/cocci/null-the-pointer-early.spatch
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..46fdffc123
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cocci/null-the-pointer-early.spatch
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+@@
+type T;
+T **PP;
+T *P;
+@@
+
+  P = *PP;
++ *PP = NULL;
+  ...
+- *PP = NULL;
+
+@@
+type T;
+identifier PP;
+identifier P;
+@@
+
+  T *P = *PP;
++ *PP = NULL;
+  ...
+- *PP = NULL;