diff --git a/drivers/md/raid1.c b/drivers/md/raid1.c
index f9c18ade06f1..093b04e6be67 100644
--- a/drivers/md/raid1.c
+++ b/drivers/md/raid1.c
@@ -3247,6 +3247,7 @@ static int raid1_run(struct mddev *mddev)
 	if (!mddev_is_dm(mddev)) {
 		ret = raid1_set_limits(mddev);
 		if (ret) {
+			md_unregister_thread(mddev, &conf->thread);
 			if (!mddev->private)
 				raid1_free(mddev, conf);
 			return ret;