diff --git a/sound/drivers/opl3/opl3_seq.c b/sound/drivers/opl3/opl3_seq.c
index b77d8e8f12fb..2bacefc3201d 100644
--- a/sound/drivers/opl3/opl3_seq.c
+++ b/sound/drivers/opl3/opl3_seq.c
@@ -214,6 +214,11 @@ static int snd_opl3_seq_probe(struct snd_seq_device *dev)
 
 	spin_lock_init(&opl3->voice_lock);
 
+	/* Initialize the timer before an attached port can receive events. */
+	timer_setup(&opl3->tlist, snd_opl3_timer_func, 0);
+	spin_lock_init(&opl3->sys_timer_lock);
+	opl3->sys_timer_status = 0;
+
 	opl3->seq_client = -1;
 
 	/* allocate new client */
@@ -232,11 +237,6 @@ static int snd_opl3_seq_probe(struct snd_seq_device *dev)
 		return err;
 	}
 
-	/* setup system timer */
-	timer_setup(&opl3->tlist, snd_opl3_timer_func, 0);
-	spin_lock_init(&opl3->sys_timer_lock);
-	opl3->sys_timer_status = 0;
-
 #if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SND_SEQUENCER_OSS)
 	snd_opl3_init_seq_oss(opl3, name);
 #endif