There is provided a reference potential generating circuit of a semiconductor memory, including: a first MOS transistor group that includes a plurality of first MOS transistors that are connected in series; a second MOS transistor that is connected in series to the first MOS transistor group; a third MOS transistor that is connected in parallel to the circuit in which the first MOS transistor group and the second MOS transistor are connected in series, has a gate connected to a connection point of the first MOS transistor group and the second MOS transistor, and corrects a reference potential from a connection point of the first MOS transistors; and a fourth MOS transistor that is connected to the gate of the third MOS transistor, and decreases the potential of the gate of the third MOS transistor when a permission signal to supply power to the semiconductor memory is input.