diff --git a/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c b/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c
index 451f9d05ccfe..4b11f0309eee 100644
--- a/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c
+++ b/kernel/time/alarmtimer.c
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ static int alarmtimer_rtc_add_device(struct device *dev,
 	unsigned long flags;
 	struct rtc_device *rtc = to_rtc_device(dev);
 	struct wakeup_source *__ws;
+	int ret = 0;
 
 	if (rtcdev)
 		return -EBUSY;
@@ -102,8 +103,8 @@ static int alarmtimer_rtc_add_device(struct device *dev,
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&rtcdev_lock, flags);
 	if (!rtcdev) {
 		if (!try_module_get(rtc->owner)) {
-			spin_unlock_irqrestore(&rtcdev_lock, flags);
-			return -1;
+			ret = -1;
+			goto unlock;
 		}
 
 		rtcdev = rtc;
@@ -112,11 +113,12 @@ static int alarmtimer_rtc_add_device(struct device *dev,
 		ws = __ws;
 		__ws = NULL;
 	}
+unlock:
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&rtcdev_lock, flags);
 
 	wakeup_source_unregister(__ws);
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static inline void alarmtimer_rtc_timer_init(void)