diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/netdev.c b/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/netdev.c
index 6f3ae0dff77c..e9f59de31b0b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/microchip/wilc1000/netdev.c
@@ -981,7 +981,7 @@ struct wilc_vif *wilc_netdev_ifc_init(struct wilc *wl, const char *name,
 						    ndev->name);
 	if (!wl->hif_workqueue) {
 		ret = -ENOMEM;
-		goto error;
+		goto unregister_netdev;
 	}
 
 	ndev->needs_free_netdev = true;
@@ -996,6 +996,11 @@ struct wilc_vif *wilc_netdev_ifc_init(struct wilc *wl, const char *name,
 
 	return vif;
 
+unregister_netdev:
+	if (rtnl_locked)
+		cfg80211_unregister_netdevice(ndev);
+	else
+		unregister_netdev(ndev);
   error:
 	free_netdev(ndev);
 	return ERR_PTR(ret);