diff --git a/samples/ftrace/ftrace-direct-modify.c b/samples/ftrace/ftrace-direct-modify.c
index 1ba1927b548e..164d9dd6fd92 100644
--- a/samples/ftrace/ftrace-direct-modify.c
+++ b/samples/ftrace/ftrace-direct-modify.c
@@ -320,9 +320,15 @@ static int __init ftrace_direct_init(void)
 	ftrace_set_filter_ip(&direct, (unsigned long) my_ip, 0, 0);
 	ret = register_ftrace_direct(&direct, my_tramp);
 
-	if (!ret)
-		simple_tsk = kthread_run(simple_thread, NULL, "event-sample-fn");
-	return ret;
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+	simple_tsk = kthread_run(simple_thread, NULL, "event-sample-fn");
+	if (IS_ERR(simple_tsk)) {
+		unregister_ftrace_direct(&direct, my_tramp, true);
+		return PTR_ERR(simple_tsk);
+	}
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void __exit ftrace_direct_exit(void)