diff --git a/app/test-crypto-perf/cperf_ops.c b/app/test-crypto-perf/cperf_ops.c
index b8f590b397..479c40eead 100644
--- a/app/test-crypto-perf/cperf_ops.c
+++ b/app/test-crypto-perf/cperf_ops.c
@@ -734,7 +734,9 @@ cperf_create_session(struct rte_mempool *sess_mp,
 	struct rte_crypto_sym_xform auth_xform;
 	struct rte_crypto_sym_xform aead_xform;
 	struct rte_cryptodev_sym_session *sess = NULL;
+	void *asym_sess = NULL;
 	struct rte_crypto_asym_xform xform = {0};
+	int ret;
 
 	if (options->op_type == CPERF_ASYM_MODEX) {
 		xform.next = NULL;
@@ -744,11 +746,13 @@ cperf_create_session(struct rte_mempool *sess_mp,
 		xform.modex.exponent.data = perf_mod_e;
 		xform.modex.exponent.length = sizeof(perf_mod_e);
 
-		sess = (void *)rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mp);
-		if (sess == NULL)
+		ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform,
+				sess_mp, &asym_sess);
+		if (ret < 0) {
+			RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1, "Asym session create failed\n");
 			return NULL;
-
-		return sess;
+		}
+		return asym_sess;
 	}
 #ifdef RTE_LIB_SECURITY
 	/*
diff --git a/app/test/test_cryptodev_asym.c b/app/test/test_cryptodev_asym.c
index f9691fe281..1bddcb013e 100644
--- a/app/test/test_cryptodev_asym.c
+++ b/app/test/test_cryptodev_asym.c
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ test_cryptodev_asym_op(struct crypto_testsuite_params_asym *ts_params,
 	uint8_t input[TEST_DATA_SIZE] = {0};
 	uint8_t *result = NULL;
 
-	int status = TEST_SUCCESS;
+	int ret, status = TEST_SUCCESS;
 
 	xform_tc.next = NULL;
 	xform_tc.xform_type = data_tc->modex.xform_type;
@@ -452,14 +452,14 @@ test_cryptodev_asym_op(struct crypto_testsuite_params_asym *ts_params,
 	}
 
 	if (!sessionless) {
-		sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform_tc,
-				ts_params->session_mpool);
-		if (!sess) {
+		ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform_tc,
+				ts_params->session_mpool, &sess);
+		if (ret < 0) {
 			snprintf(test_msg, ASYM_TEST_MSG_LEN,
 					"line %u "
 					"FAILED: %s", __LINE__,
 					"Session creation failed");
-			status = TEST_FAILED;
+			status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 			goto error_exit;
 		}
 
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ test_rsa_sign_verify(void)
 	uint8_t dev_id = ts_params->valid_devs[0];
 	void *sess = NULL;
 	struct rte_cryptodev_info dev_info;
-	int status = TEST_SUCCESS;
+	int ret, status = TEST_SUCCESS;
 
 	/* Test case supports op with exponent key only,
 	 * Check in PMD feature flag for RSA exponent key type support.
@@ -659,12 +659,12 @@ test_rsa_sign_verify(void)
 		return TEST_SKIPPED;
 	}
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &rsa_xform, sess_mpool);
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &rsa_xform, sess_mpool, &sess);
 
-	if (!sess) {
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1, "Session creation failed for "
 			"sign_verify\n");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ test_rsa_enc_dec(void)
 	uint8_t dev_id = ts_params->valid_devs[0];
 	void *sess = NULL;
 	struct rte_cryptodev_info dev_info;
-	int status = TEST_SUCCESS;
+	int ret, status = TEST_SUCCESS;
 
 	/* Test case supports op with exponent key only,
 	 * Check in PMD feature flag for RSA exponent key type support.
@@ -699,11 +699,11 @@ test_rsa_enc_dec(void)
 		return TEST_SKIPPED;
 	}
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &rsa_xform, sess_mpool);
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &rsa_xform, sess_mpool, &sess);
 
-	if (!sess) {
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1, "Session creation failed for enc_dec\n");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 
@@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ test_rsa_sign_verify_crt(void)
 	uint8_t dev_id = ts_params->valid_devs[0];
 	void *sess = NULL;
 	struct rte_cryptodev_info dev_info;
-	int status = TEST_SUCCESS;
+	int ret, status = TEST_SUCCESS;
 
 	/* Test case supports op with quintuple format key only,
 	 * Check im PMD feature flag for RSA quintuple key type support.
@@ -738,12 +738,12 @@ test_rsa_sign_verify_crt(void)
 		return TEST_SKIPPED;
 	}
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &rsa_xform_crt, sess_mpool);
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &rsa_xform_crt, sess_mpool, &sess);
 
-	if (!sess) {
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1, "Session creation failed for "
 			"sign_verify_crt\n");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ test_rsa_enc_dec_crt(void)
 	uint8_t dev_id = ts_params->valid_devs[0];
 	void *sess = NULL;
 	struct rte_cryptodev_info dev_info;
-	int status = TEST_SUCCESS;
+	int ret, status = TEST_SUCCESS;
 
 	/* Test case supports op with quintuple format key only,
 	 * Check in PMD feature flag for RSA quintuple key type support.
@@ -778,12 +778,12 @@ test_rsa_enc_dec_crt(void)
 		return TEST_SKIPPED;
 	}
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &rsa_xform_crt, sess_mpool);
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &rsa_xform_crt, sess_mpool, &sess);
 
-	if (!sess) {
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1, "Session creation failed for "
 			"enc_dec_crt\n");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 
@@ -1047,7 +1047,7 @@ test_dh_gen_shared_sec(struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xfrm)
 	struct rte_crypto_asym_op *asym_op = NULL;
 	struct rte_crypto_op *op = NULL, *result_op = NULL;
 	void *sess = NULL;
-	int status = TEST_SUCCESS;
+	int ret, status = TEST_SUCCESS;
 	uint8_t output[TEST_DH_MOD_LEN];
 	struct rte_crypto_asym_xform xform = *xfrm;
 	uint8_t peer[] = "01234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789";
@@ -1074,12 +1074,12 @@ test_dh_gen_shared_sec(struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xfrm)
 	asym_op->dh.shared_secret.data = output;
 	asym_op->dh.shared_secret.length = sizeof(output);
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool);
-	if (sess == NULL) {
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool, &sess);
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1,
 				"line %u FAILED: %s", __LINE__,
 				"Session creation failed");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 
@@ -1130,7 +1130,7 @@ test_dh_gen_priv_key(struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xfrm)
 	struct rte_crypto_asym_op *asym_op = NULL;
 	struct rte_crypto_op *op = NULL, *result_op = NULL;
 	void *sess = NULL;
-	int status = TEST_SUCCESS;
+	int ret, status = TEST_SUCCESS;
 	uint8_t output[TEST_DH_MOD_LEN];
 	struct rte_crypto_asym_xform xform = *xfrm;
 
@@ -1152,12 +1152,12 @@ test_dh_gen_priv_key(struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xfrm)
 	asym_op->dh.priv_key.data = output;
 	asym_op->dh.priv_key.length = sizeof(output);
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool);
-	if (sess == NULL) {
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool, &sess);
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1,
 				"line %u FAILED: %s", __LINE__,
 				"Session creation failed");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 
@@ -1211,7 +1211,7 @@ test_dh_gen_pub_key(struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xfrm)
 	struct rte_crypto_asym_op *asym_op = NULL;
 	struct rte_crypto_op *op = NULL, *result_op = NULL;
 	void *sess = NULL;
-	int status = TEST_SUCCESS;
+	int ret, status = TEST_SUCCESS;
 	uint8_t output[TEST_DH_MOD_LEN];
 	struct rte_crypto_asym_xform xform = *xfrm;
 
@@ -1241,12 +1241,12 @@ test_dh_gen_pub_key(struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xfrm)
 					0);
 	asym_op->dh.priv_key = dh_test_params.priv_key;
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool);
-	if (sess == NULL) {
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool, &sess);
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1,
 				"line %u FAILED: %s", __LINE__,
 				"Session creation failed");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 
@@ -1300,7 +1300,7 @@ test_dh_gen_kp(struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xfrm)
 	struct rte_crypto_asym_op *asym_op = NULL;
 	struct rte_crypto_op *op = NULL, *result_op = NULL;
 	void *sess = NULL;
-	int status = TEST_SUCCESS;
+	int ret, status = TEST_SUCCESS;
 	uint8_t out_pub_key[TEST_DH_MOD_LEN];
 	uint8_t out_prv_key[TEST_DH_MOD_LEN];
 	struct rte_crypto_asym_xform pub_key_xform;
@@ -1330,12 +1330,12 @@ test_dh_gen_kp(struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xfrm)
 	asym_op->dh.priv_key.data = out_prv_key;
 	asym_op->dh.priv_key.length = sizeof(out_prv_key);
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool);
-	if (sess == NULL) {
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool, &sess);
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1,
 				"line %u FAILED: %s", __LINE__,
 				"Session creation failed");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 
@@ -1419,12 +1419,12 @@ test_mod_inv(void)
 				return TEST_SKIPPED;
 		}
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &modinv_xform, sess_mpool);
-	if (!sess) {
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &modinv_xform, sess_mpool, &sess);
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1, "line %u "
 				"FAILED: %s", __LINE__,
 				"Session creation failed");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 
@@ -1543,13 +1543,13 @@ test_mod_exp(void)
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &modex_xform, sess_mpool);
-	if (!sess) {
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &modex_xform, sess_mpool, &sess);
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1,
 				 "line %u "
 				"FAILED: %s", __LINE__,
 				"Session creation failed");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 
@@ -1653,13 +1653,14 @@ test_dsa_sign(void)
 	uint8_t r[TEST_DH_MOD_LEN];
 	uint8_t s[TEST_DH_MOD_LEN];
 	uint8_t dgst[] = "35d81554afaad2cf18f3a1770d5fedc4ea5be344";
+	int ret;
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &dsa_xform, sess_mpool);
-	if (sess == NULL) {
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &dsa_xform, sess_mpool, &sess);
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1,
 				 "line %u FAILED: %s", __LINE__,
 				"Session creation failed");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
 	/* set up crypto op data structure */
@@ -1788,7 +1789,7 @@ test_ecdsa_sign_verify(enum curve curve_id)
 	struct rte_crypto_asym_op *asym_op;
 	struct rte_cryptodev_info dev_info;
 	struct rte_crypto_op *op = NULL;
-	int status = TEST_SUCCESS, ret;
+	int ret, status = TEST_SUCCESS;
 
 	switch (curve_id) {
 	case SECP192R1:
@@ -1833,12 +1834,12 @@ test_ecdsa_sign_verify(enum curve curve_id)
 	xform.xform_type = RTE_CRYPTO_ASYM_XFORM_ECDSA;
 	xform.ec.curve_id = input_params.curve;
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool);
-	if (sess == NULL) {
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool, &sess);
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1,
 				"line %u FAILED: %s", __LINE__,
 				"Session creation failed\n");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto exit;
 	}
 
@@ -1990,7 +1991,7 @@ test_ecpm(enum curve curve_id)
 	struct rte_crypto_asym_op *asym_op;
 	struct rte_cryptodev_info dev_info;
 	struct rte_crypto_op *op = NULL;
-	int status = TEST_SUCCESS, ret;
+	int ret, status = TEST_SUCCESS;
 
 	switch (curve_id) {
 	case SECP192R1:
@@ -2035,12 +2036,12 @@ test_ecpm(enum curve curve_id)
 	xform.xform_type = RTE_CRYPTO_ASYM_XFORM_ECPM;
 	xform.ec.curve_id = input_params.curve;
 
-	sess = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool);
-	if (sess == NULL) {
+	ret = rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(dev_id, &xform, sess_mpool, &sess);
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, USER1,
 				"line %u FAILED: %s", __LINE__,
 				"Session creation failed\n");
-		status = TEST_FAILED;
+		status = (ret == -ENOTSUP) ? TEST_SKIPPED : TEST_FAILED;
 		goto exit;
 	}
 
diff --git a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_03.rst b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_03.rst
index a930cbbad6..640691c3ef 100644
--- a/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_03.rst
+++ b/doc/guides/rel_notes/release_22_03.rst
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ API Changes
   The session structure was moved to ``cryptodev_pmd.h``,
   hiding it from applications.
   The API ``rte_cryptodev_asym_session_init`` was removed as the initialization
-  is now moved to ``rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create``.
+  is now moved to ``rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create``, which was updated to
+  return an integer value to indicate initialisation errors.
 
 
 ABI Changes
diff --git a/lib/cryptodev/rte_cryptodev.c b/lib/cryptodev/rte_cryptodev.c
index 916dbb6709..727d271fb9 100644
--- a/lib/cryptodev/rte_cryptodev.c
+++ b/lib/cryptodev/rte_cryptodev.c
@@ -1912,9 +1912,10 @@ rte_cryptodev_sym_session_create(struct rte_mempool *mp)
 	return sess;
 }
 
-void *
+int
 rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(uint8_t dev_id,
-		struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xforms, struct rte_mempool *mp)
+		struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xforms, struct rte_mempool *mp,
+		void **session)
 {
 	struct rte_cryptodev_asym_session *sess;
 	uint32_t session_priv_data_sz;
@@ -1926,17 +1927,17 @@ rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(uint8_t dev_id,
 
 	if (!rte_cryptodev_is_valid_dev(dev_id)) {
 		CDEV_LOG_ERR("Invalid dev_id=%" PRIu8, dev_id);
-		return NULL;
+		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
 	dev = rte_cryptodev_pmd_get_dev(dev_id);
 
 	if (dev == NULL)
-		return NULL;
+		return -EINVAL;
 
 	if (!mp) {
 		CDEV_LOG_ERR("invalid mempool\n");
-		return NULL;
+		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
 	session_priv_data_sz = rte_cryptodev_asym_get_private_session_size(
@@ -1946,22 +1947,23 @@ rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(uint8_t dev_id,
 	if (pool_priv->max_priv_session_sz < session_priv_data_sz) {
 		CDEV_LOG_DEBUG(
 			"The private session data size used when creating the mempool is smaller than this device's private session data.");
-		return NULL;
+		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
 	/* Verify if provided mempool can hold elements big enough. */
 	if (mp->elt_size < session_header_size + session_priv_data_sz) {
 		CDEV_LOG_ERR(
 			"mempool elements too small to hold session objects");
-		return NULL;
+		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
 	/* Allocate a session structure from the session pool */
-	if (rte_mempool_get(mp, (void **)&sess)) {
+	if (rte_mempool_get(mp, session)) {
 		CDEV_LOG_ERR("couldn't get object from session mempool");
-		return NULL;
+		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
+	sess = *session;
 	sess->driver_id = dev->driver_id;
 	sess->user_data_sz = pool_priv->user_data_sz;
 	sess->max_priv_data_sz = pool_priv->max_priv_session_sz;
@@ -1969,7 +1971,7 @@ rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(uint8_t dev_id,
 	/* Clear device session pointer.*/
 	memset(sess->sess_private_data, 0, session_priv_data_sz + sess->user_data_sz);
 
-	RTE_FUNC_PTR_OR_ERR_RET(*dev->dev_ops->asym_session_configure, NULL);
+	RTE_FUNC_PTR_OR_ERR_RET(*dev->dev_ops->asym_session_configure, -ENOTSUP);
 
 	if (sess->sess_private_data[0] == 0) {
 		ret = dev->dev_ops->asym_session_configure(dev, xforms, sess);
@@ -1977,12 +1979,12 @@ rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(uint8_t dev_id,
 			CDEV_LOG_ERR(
 				"dev_id %d failed to configure session details",
 				dev_id);
-			return NULL;
+			return ret;
 		}
 	}
 
 	rte_cryptodev_trace_asym_session_create(dev_id, xforms, mp, sess);
-	return sess;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 int
diff --git a/lib/cryptodev/rte_cryptodev.h b/lib/cryptodev/rte_cryptodev.h
index 91110b08da..dba982e919 100644
--- a/lib/cryptodev/rte_cryptodev.h
+++ b/lib/cryptodev/rte_cryptodev.h
@@ -995,14 +995,19 @@ rte_cryptodev_sym_session_create(struct rte_mempool *mempool);
  *                   processed with this session
  * @param   mp       mempool to allocate asymmetric session
  *                   objects from
+ * @param   session  void ** for session to be used
+ *
  * @return
- *  - On success return pointer to asym-session
- *  - On failure returns NULL
+ *  - 0 on success.
+ *  - -EINVAL on invalid arguments.
+ *  - -ENOMEM on memory error for session allocation.
+ *  - -ENOTSUP if device doesn't support session configuration.
  */
 __rte_experimental
-void *
+int
 rte_cryptodev_asym_session_create(uint8_t dev_id,
-		struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xforms, struct rte_mempool *mp);
+		struct rte_crypto_asym_xform *xforms, struct rte_mempool *mp,
+		void **session);
 
 /**
  * Frees symmetric crypto session header, after checking that all
