diff --git a/sound/soc/soc-topology.c b/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
index 6963ba20991c..70396d3f6472 100644
--- a/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
+++ b/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
@@ -1484,6 +1484,7 @@ widget:
 	if (widget == NULL) {
 		dev_err(tplg->dev, "ASoC: failed to create widget %s controls\n",
 			w->name);
+		ret = -ENOMEM;
 		goto hdr_err;
 	}