diff --git a/arch/mips/alchemy/common/clock.c b/arch/mips/alchemy/common/clock.c
index a95a894aceaf..f0c830337104 100644
--- a/arch/mips/alchemy/common/clock.c
+++ b/arch/mips/alchemy/common/clock.c
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ static struct clk __init *alchemy_clk_setup_cpu(const char *parent_name,
 {
 	struct clk_init_data id;
 	struct clk_hw *h;
+	struct clk *clk;
 
 	h = kzalloc(sizeof(*h), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!h)
@@ -164,7 +165,13 @@ static struct clk __init *alchemy_clk_setup_cpu(const char *parent_name,
 	id.ops = &alchemy_clkops_cpu;
 	h->init = &id;
 
-	return clk_register(NULL, h);
+	clk = clk_register(NULL, h);
+	if (IS_ERR(clk)) {
+		pr_err("failed to register clock\n");
+		kfree(h);
+	}
+
+	return clk;
 }
 
 /* AUXPLLs ************************************************************/