diff --git a/drivers/media/i2c/ov5675.c b/drivers/media/i2c/ov5675.c
index 1ae252378799..477f61b8559c 100644
--- a/drivers/media/i2c/ov5675.c
+++ b/drivers/media/i2c/ov5675.c
@@ -722,8 +722,10 @@ static int ov5675_init_controls(struct ov5675 *ov5675)
 				     V4L2_CID_TEST_PATTERN,
 				     ARRAY_SIZE(ov5675_test_pattern_menu) - 1,
 				     0, 0, ov5675_test_pattern_menu);
-	if (ctrl_hdlr->error)
+	if (ctrl_hdlr->error) {
+		v4l2_ctrl_handler_free(ctrl_hdlr);
 		return ctrl_hdlr->error;
+	}
 
 	ov5675->sd.ctrl_handler = ctrl_hdlr;