diff --git a/sound/isa/es1688/es1688.c b/sound/isa/es1688/es1688.c
index 9be89377171b..b4e9b0de3b42 100644
--- a/sound/isa/es1688/es1688.c
+++ b/sound/isa/es1688/es1688.c
@@ -267,8 +267,10 @@ static int snd_es968_pnp_detect(struct pnp_card_link *pcard,
 		return error;
 	}
 	error = snd_es1688_probe(card, dev);
-	if (error < 0)
+	if (error < 0) {
+		snd_card_free(card);
 		return error;
+	}
 	pnp_set_card_drvdata(pcard, card);
 	snd_es968_pnp_is_probed = 1;
 	return 0;