diff --git a/drivers/rtc/rtc-m41t80.c b/drivers/rtc/rtc-m41t80.c
index 316bfaa80872..3d451ece253c 100644
--- a/drivers/rtc/rtc-m41t80.c
+++ b/drivers/rtc/rtc-m41t80.c
@@ -803,6 +803,7 @@ static int m41t80_probe(struct i2c_client *client,
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_RTC_DRV_M41T80_WDT
 	if (clientdata->features & M41T80_FEATURE_HT) {
+		save_client = client;
 		rc = misc_register(&wdt_dev);
 		if (rc)
 			goto exit;
@@ -811,7 +812,6 @@ static int m41t80_probe(struct i2c_client *client,
 			misc_deregister(&wdt_dev);
 			goto exit;
 		}
-		save_client = client;
 	}
 #endif
 	return 0;