diff --git a/net/smc/smc_ism.c b/net/smc/smc_ism.c
index b4a9fe452470..024ca21392f7 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_ism.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_ism.c
@@ -304,6 +304,14 @@ struct smcd_dev *smcd_alloc_dev(struct device *parent, const char *name,
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	smcd->event_wq = alloc_ordered_workqueue("ism_evt_wq-%s)",
+						 WQ_MEM_RECLAIM, name);
+	if (!smcd->event_wq) {
+		kfree(smcd->conn);
+		kfree(smcd);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	smcd->dev.parent = parent;
 	smcd->dev.release = smcd_release;
 	device_initialize(&smcd->dev);
@@ -317,8 +325,6 @@ struct smcd_dev *smcd_alloc_dev(struct device *parent, const char *name,
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&smcd->vlan);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&smcd->lgr_list);
 	init_waitqueue_head(&smcd->lgrs_deleted);
-	smcd->event_wq = alloc_ordered_workqueue("ism_evt_wq-%s)",
-						 WQ_MEM_RECLAIM, name);
 	return smcd;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(smcd_alloc_dev);