diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c
index 4ac928bf1f8e..e1992de500b0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtlwifi/base.c
@@ -454,9 +454,14 @@ static void _rtl_init_mac80211(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 	}
 }
 
-static void _rtl_init_deferred_work(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
+static int _rtl_init_deferred_work(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 {
 	struct rtl_priv *rtlpriv = rtl_priv(hw);
+	struct workqueue_struct *wq;
+
+	wq = alloc_workqueue("%s", 0, 0, rtlpriv->cfg->name);
+	if (!wq)
+		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	/* <1> timer */
 	setup_timer(&rtlpriv->works.watchdog_timer,
@@ -465,7 +470,8 @@ static void _rtl_init_deferred_work(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 		    rtl_easy_concurrent_retrytimer_callback, (unsigned long)hw);
 	/* <2> work queue */
 	rtlpriv->works.hw = hw;
-	rtlpriv->works.rtl_wq = alloc_workqueue("%s", 0, 0, rtlpriv->cfg->name);
+	rtlpriv->works.rtl_wq = wq;
+
 	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&rtlpriv->works.watchdog_wq,
 			  (void *)rtl_watchdog_wq_callback);
 	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&rtlpriv->works.ips_nic_off_wq,
@@ -476,7 +482,7 @@ static void _rtl_init_deferred_work(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 			  (void *)rtl_swlps_rfon_wq_callback);
 	INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&rtlpriv->works.fwevt_wq,
 			  (void *)rtl_fwevt_wq_callback);
-
+	return 0;
 }
 
 void rtl_deinit_deferred_work(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
@@ -568,9 +574,7 @@ int rtl_init_core(struct ieee80211_hw *hw)
 	rtlmac->link_state = MAC80211_NOLINK;
 
 	/* <6> init deferred work */
-	_rtl_init_deferred_work(hw);
-
-	return 0;
+	return _rtl_init_deferred_work(hw);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(rtl_init_core);