diff --git a/sound/pci/es1938.c b/sound/pci/es1938.c
index f4c7a9532f4a..217beb9376ac 100644
--- a/sound/pci/es1938.c
+++ b/sound/pci/es1938.c
@@ -1655,6 +1655,8 @@ static int snd_es1938_mixer(struct es1938 *chip)
 	for (idx = 0; idx < ARRAY_SIZE(snd_es1938_controls); idx++) {
 		struct snd_kcontrol *kctl;
 		kctl = snd_ctl_new1(&snd_es1938_controls[idx], chip);
+		if (!kctl)
+			return -ENOMEM;
 		switch (idx) {
 			case 0:
 				chip->master_volume = kctl;