diff --git a/sound/isa/gus/gus_main.c b/sound/isa/gus/gus_main.c
index 3b8a0c880db5..33c8b66d5c8a 100644
--- a/sound/isa/gus/gus_main.c
+++ b/sound/isa/gus/gus_main.c
@@ -92,8 +92,17 @@ static const struct snd_kcontrol_new snd_gus_joystick_control = {
 
 static void snd_gus_init_control(struct snd_gus_card *gus)
 {
-	if (!gus->ace_flag)
-		snd_ctl_add(gus->card, snd_ctl_new1(&snd_gus_joystick_control, gus));
+	int ret;
+
+	if (!gus->ace_flag) {
+		ret =
+			snd_ctl_add(gus->card,
+					snd_ctl_new1(&snd_gus_joystick_control,
+						gus));
+		if (ret)
+			snd_printk(KERN_ERR "gus: snd_ctl_add failed: %d\n",
+					ret);
+	}
 }
 
 /*