diff --git a/drivers/reset/core.c b/drivers/reset/core.c
index 4a63b379361c..f15f150b79da 100644
--- a/drivers/reset/core.c
+++ b/drivers/reset/core.c
@@ -45,9 +45,6 @@ struct reset_control {
 static int of_reset_simple_xlate(struct reset_controller_dev *rcdev,
 			  const struct of_phandle_args *reset_spec)
 {
-	if (WARN_ON(reset_spec->args_count != rcdev->of_reset_n_cells))
-		return -EINVAL;
-
 	if (reset_spec->args[0] >= rcdev->nr_resets)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
@@ -178,6 +175,11 @@ struct reset_control *of_reset_control_get_by_index(struct device_node *node,
 		return ERR_PTR(-EPROBE_DEFER);
 	}
 
+	if (WARN_ON(args.args_count != rcdev->of_reset_n_cells)) {
+		mutex_unlock(&reset_controller_list_mutex);
+		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
+	}
+
 	rstc_id = rcdev->of_xlate(rcdev, &args);
 	if (rstc_id < 0) {
 		mutex_unlock(&reset_controller_list_mutex);