diff --git a/sound/soc/soc-topology.c b/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
index 05a18f68bfd0..a9e83a2dd91c 100644
--- a/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
+++ b/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
@@ -1476,6 +1476,7 @@ static int soc_tplg_dapm_widget_create(struct soc_tplg *tplg,
 	if (widget == NULL) {
 		dev_err(tplg->dev, "ASoC: failed to create widget %s controls\n",
 			w->name);
+		ret = -ENOMEM;
 		goto hdr_err;
 	}