diff --git a/drivers/pcmcia/cs.c b/drivers/pcmcia/cs.c
index 5d0e60e09d31..0660ad182589 100644
--- a/drivers/pcmcia/cs.c
+++ b/drivers/pcmcia/cs.c
@@ -186,12 +186,6 @@ int pcmcia_register_socket(struct pcmcia_socket *socket)
 
 	spin_lock_init(&socket->lock);
 
-	if (socket->resource_ops->init) {
-		ret = socket->resource_ops->init(socket);
-		if (ret)
-			return (ret);
-	}
-
 	/* try to obtain a socket number [yes, it gets ugly if we
 	 * register more than 2^sizeof(unsigned int) pcmcia
 	 * sockets... but the socket number is deprecated
@@ -239,6 +233,12 @@ int pcmcia_register_socket(struct pcmcia_socket *socket)
 	mutex_init(&socket->skt_mutex);
 	spin_lock_init(&socket->thread_lock);
 
+	if (socket->resource_ops->init) {
+		ret = socket->resource_ops->init(socket);
+		if (ret)
+			goto err;
+	}
+
 	tsk = kthread_run(pccardd, socket, "pccardd");
 	if (IS_ERR(tsk)) {
 		ret = PTR_ERR(tsk);