diff --git a/sound/soc/tegra/tegra210_i2s.c b/sound/soc/tegra/tegra210_i2s.c
index ff8c72fc38c5..e7e26e917291 100644
--- a/sound/soc/tegra/tegra210_i2s.c
+++ b/sound/soc/tegra/tegra210_i2s.c
@@ -1078,13 +1078,13 @@ static int tegra210_i2s_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 				     "can't retrieve I2S bit clock\n");
 
 	/*
-	 * Not an error, as this clock is needed only when some other I/O
-	 * requires input clock from current I2S instance, which is
-	 * configurable from DT.
+	 * This clock is optional and is only needed when another I/O uses
+	 * the current I2S instance as its input clock, as configured in DT.
 	 */
-	i2s->clk_sync_input = devm_clk_get(dev, "sync_input");
+	i2s->clk_sync_input = devm_clk_get_optional(dev, "sync_input");
 	if (IS_ERR(i2s->clk_sync_input))
-		dev_dbg(dev, "can't retrieve I2S sync input clock\n");
+		return dev_err_probe(dev, PTR_ERR(i2s->clk_sync_input),
+				     "can't retrieve I2S sync input clock\n");
 
 	regs = devm_platform_ioremap_resource(pdev, 0);
 	if (IS_ERR(regs))