diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c
index 45d9117cab68..9548d3f8fc8e 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_core.c
@@ -1040,7 +1040,7 @@ int serial8250_register_8250_port(struct uart_8250_port *up)
 			gpios = mctrl_gpio_init(&uart->port, 0);
 			if (IS_ERR(gpios)) {
 				ret = PTR_ERR(gpios);
-				goto out_unlock;
+				goto err;
 			} else {
 				uart->gpios = gpios;
 			}
@@ -1089,8 +1089,10 @@ int serial8250_register_8250_port(struct uart_8250_port *up)
 			serial8250_apply_quirks(uart);
 			ret = uart_add_one_port(&serial8250_reg,
 						&uart->port);
-			if (ret == 0)
-				ret = uart->port.line;
+			if (ret)
+				goto err;
+
+			ret = uart->port.line;
 		} else {
 			dev_info(uart->port.dev,
 				"skipping CIR port at 0x%lx / 0x%llx, IRQ %d\n",
@@ -1112,10 +1114,14 @@ int serial8250_register_8250_port(struct uart_8250_port *up)
 		}
 	}
 
-out_unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&serial_mutex);
 
 	return ret;
+
+err:
+	uart->port.dev = NULL;
+	mutex_unlock(&serial_mutex);
+	return ret;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(serial8250_register_8250_port);