diff --git a/drivers/firewire/fw-card.c b/drivers/firewire/fw-card.c
index 7be2cf3514e7..a5dd7a665aa8 100644
--- a/drivers/firewire/fw-card.c
+++ b/drivers/firewire/fw-card.c
@@ -412,6 +412,7 @@ fw_card_add(struct fw_card *card,
 {
 	u32 *config_rom;
 	size_t length;
+	int err;
 
 	card->max_receive = max_receive;
 	card->link_speed = link_speed;
@@ -422,7 +423,13 @@ fw_card_add(struct fw_card *card,
 	list_add_tail(&card->link, &card_list);
 	mutex_unlock(&card_mutex);
 
-	return card->driver->enable(card, config_rom, length);
+	err = card->driver->enable(card, config_rom, length);
+	if (err < 0) {
+		mutex_lock(&card_mutex);
+		list_del(&card->link);
+		mutex_unlock(&card_mutex);
+	}
+	return err;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(fw_card_add);