diff --git a/sound/pci/echoaudio/echoaudio.c b/sound/pci/echoaudio/echoaudio.c
index 8dab82d7d19d..668a5ec04499 100644
--- a/sound/pci/echoaudio/echoaudio.c
+++ b/sound/pci/echoaudio/echoaudio.c
@@ -2184,10 +2184,9 @@ static int __devinit snd_echo_probe(struct pci_dev *pci,
 			goto ctl_error;
 #endif
 
-	if ((err = snd_card_register(card)) < 0) {
-		snd_card_free(card);
+	err = snd_card_register(card);
+	if (err < 0)
 		goto ctl_error;
-	}
 	snd_printk(KERN_INFO "Card registered: %s\n", card->longname);
 
 	pci_set_drvdata(pci, chip);