diff --git a/drivers/media/i2c/tw9906.c b/drivers/media/i2c/tw9906.c
index 6220f4fddbab..0ab43fe42d7f 100644
--- a/drivers/media/i2c/tw9906.c
+++ b/drivers/media/i2c/tw9906.c
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ static int tw9906_probe(struct i2c_client *client)
 
 	if (write_regs(sd, initial_registers) < 0) {
 		v4l2_err(client, "error initializing TW9906\n");
+		v4l2_ctrl_handler_free(hdl);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}