diff --git a/drivers/crypto/ixp4xx_crypto.c b/drivers/crypto/ixp4xx_crypto.c
index a6ab2575df28..7868765a70c5 100644
--- a/drivers/crypto/ixp4xx_crypto.c
+++ b/drivers/crypto/ixp4xx_crypto.c
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ static int init_ixp_crypto(struct device *dev)
 	if (!npe_running(npe_c)) {
 		ret = npe_load_firmware(npe_c, npe_name(npe_c), dev);
 		if (ret)
-			return ret;
+			goto npe_release;
 		if (npe_recv_message(npe_c, msg, "STATUS_MSG"))
 			goto npe_error;
 	} else {
@@ -472,7 +472,8 @@ static int init_ixp_crypto(struct device *dev)
 	default:
 		printk(KERN_ERR "Firmware of %s lacks crypto support\n",
 			npe_name(npe_c));
-		return -ENODEV;
+		ret = -ENODEV;
+		goto npe_release;
 	}
 	/* buffer_pool will also be used to sometimes store the hmac,
 	 * so assure it is large enough
@@ -511,6 +512,7 @@ npe_error:
 err:
 	dma_pool_destroy(ctx_pool);
 	dma_pool_destroy(buffer_pool);
+npe_release:
 	npe_release(npe_c);
 	return ret;
 }