diff --git a/drivers/rapidio/rio_cm.c b/drivers/rapidio/rio_cm.c
index cf45829585cb..b29fc258eeba 100644
--- a/drivers/rapidio/rio_cm.c
+++ b/drivers/rapidio/rio_cm.c
@@ -2147,6 +2147,14 @@ static int riocm_add_mport(struct device *dev,
 	mutex_init(&cm->rx_lock);
 	riocm_rx_fill(cm, RIOCM_RX_RING_SIZE);
 	cm->rx_wq = create_workqueue(DRV_NAME "/rxq");
+	if (!cm->rx_wq) {
+		riocm_error("failed to allocate IBMBOX_%d on %s",
+			    cmbox, mport->name);
+		rio_release_outb_mbox(mport, cmbox);
+		kfree(cm);
+		return -ENOMEM;
+	}
+
 	INIT_WORK(&cm->rx_work, rio_ibmsg_handler);
 
 	cm->tx_slot = 0;