diff --git a/drivers/net/ifb.c b/drivers/net/ifb.c
index a11f7a45cb5f..a3bed28197d2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ifb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ifb.c
@@ -291,6 +291,8 @@ static int __init ifb_init_module(void)
 
 	rtnl_lock();
 	err = __rtnl_link_register(&ifb_link_ops);
+	if (err < 0)
+		goto out;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < numifbs && !err; i++) {
 		err = ifb_init_one(i);
@@ -298,6 +300,8 @@ static int __init ifb_init_module(void)
 	}
 	if (err)
 		__rtnl_link_unregister(&ifb_link_ops);
+
+out:
 	rtnl_unlock();
 
 	return err;