diff --git a/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc13xxx.c b/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc13xxx.c
index afce2c0b4bd6..d6802e6191cb 100644
--- a/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc13xxx.c
+++ b/drivers/rtc/rtc-mc13xxx.c
@@ -308,8 +308,10 @@ static int __init mc13xxx_rtc_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	mc13xxx_unlock(mc13xxx);
 
 	ret = rtc_register_device(priv->rtc);
-	if (ret)
+	if (ret) {
+		mc13xxx_lock(mc13xxx);
 		goto err_irq_request;
+	}
 
 	return 0;