diff --git a/drivers/remoteproc/ti_k3_r5_remoteproc.c b/drivers/remoteproc/ti_k3_r5_remoteproc.c
index d2bf4f95a357..4919407d422d 100644
--- a/drivers/remoteproc/ti_k3_r5_remoteproc.c
+++ b/drivers/remoteproc/ti_k3_r5_remoteproc.c
@@ -575,7 +575,8 @@ static int k3_r5_rproc_start(struct rproc *rproc)
 		if (core != core0 && core0->rproc->state == RPROC_OFFLINE) {
 			dev_err(dev, "%s: can not start core 1 before core 0\n",
 				__func__);
-			return -EPERM;
+			ret = -EPERM;
+			goto put_mbox;
 		}
 
 		ret = k3_r5_core_run(core);
@@ -643,7 +644,8 @@ static int k3_r5_rproc_stop(struct rproc *rproc)
 		if (core != core1 && core1->rproc->state != RPROC_OFFLINE) {
 			dev_err(dev, "%s: can not stop core 0 before core 1\n",
 				__func__);
-			return -EPERM;
+			ret = -EPERM;
+			goto out;
 		}
 
 		ret = k3_r5_core_halt(core);