diff --git a/sound/isa/gus/gus_pcm.c b/sound/isa/gus/gus_pcm.c
index a0757e1ede46..08ccb4d80ade 100644
--- a/sound/isa/gus/gus_pcm.c
+++ b/sound/isa/gus/gus_pcm.c
@@ -851,6 +851,8 @@ int snd_gf1_pcm_new(struct snd_gus_card *gus, int pcm_dev, int control_index)
 		kctl = snd_ctl_new1(&snd_gf1_pcm_volume_control1, gus);
 	else
 		kctl = snd_ctl_new1(&snd_gf1_pcm_volume_control, gus);
+	if (!kctl)
+		return -ENOMEM;
 	kctl->id.index = control_index;
 	err = snd_ctl_add(card, kctl);
 	if (err < 0)