diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_hst.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_hst.c
index ca05b07a45e6..6878da6d15b4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_hst.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_hst.c
@@ -285,7 +285,8 @@ int htc_connect_service(struct htc_target *target,
 	if (!time_left) {
 		dev_err(target->dev, "Service connection timeout for: %d\n",
 			service_connreq->service_id);
-		return -ETIMEDOUT;
+		ret = -ETIMEDOUT;
+		goto err;
 	}
 
 	*conn_rsp_epid = target->conn_rsp_epid;