diff --git a/drivers/media/i2c/ov8856.c b/drivers/media/i2c/ov8856.c
index e2998cfa0d18..dd01e1d515ff 100644
--- a/drivers/media/i2c/ov8856.c
+++ b/drivers/media/i2c/ov8856.c
@@ -1951,12 +1951,18 @@ static int ov8856_init_controls(struct ov8856 *ov8856)
 			  V4L2_CID_HFLIP, 0, 1, 1, 0);
 	v4l2_ctrl_new_std(ctrl_hdlr, &ov8856_ctrl_ops,
 			  V4L2_CID_VFLIP, 0, 1, 1, 0);
-	if (ctrl_hdlr->error)
-		return ctrl_hdlr->error;
+	if (ctrl_hdlr->error) {
+		ret = ctrl_hdlr->error;
+		goto err_ctrl_handler_free;
+	}
 
 	ov8856->sd.ctrl_handler = ctrl_hdlr;
 
 	return 0;
+
+err_ctrl_handler_free:
+	v4l2_ctrl_handler_free(ctrl_hdlr);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static void ov8856_update_pad_format(struct ov8856 *ov8856,