diff --git a/arch/sh/kernel/cpu/clock.c b/arch/sh/kernel/cpu/clock.c
index 1dc896483b59..099373ae57d8 100644
--- a/arch/sh/kernel/cpu/clock.c
+++ b/arch/sh/kernel/cpu/clock.c
@@ -99,15 +99,18 @@ static int __clk_enable(struct clk *clk)
 	 * changes and the clock needs to hunt for the proper set of
 	 * divisors to use before it can effectively recalc.
 	 */
+
+	if (clk->flags & CLK_ALWAYS_ENABLED) {
+		kref_get(&clk->kref);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	if (unlikely(atomic_read(&clk->kref.refcount) == 1))
 		if (clk->ops && clk->ops->init)
 			clk->ops->init(clk);
 
 	kref_get(&clk->kref);
 
-	if (clk->flags & CLK_ALWAYS_ENABLED)
-		return 0;
-
 	if (likely(clk->ops && clk->ops->enable))
 		clk->ops->enable(clk);