diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
index 08022ded6307..dbb46ece6f52 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
@@ -3121,8 +3121,10 @@ static int hwsim_init_netlink(void)
 		goto failure;
 
 	rc = netlink_register_notifier(&hwsim_netlink_notifier);
-	if (rc)
+	if (rc) {
+		genl_unregister_family(&hwsim_genl_family);
 		goto failure;
+	}
 
 	return 0;