diff --git a/drivers/usb/typec/tcpm/tcpm.c b/drivers/usb/typec/tcpm/tcpm.c
index 5512a0571247..a1b981887c7e 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/typec/tcpm/tcpm.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/typec/tcpm/tcpm.c
@@ -1485,7 +1485,8 @@ static void svdm_consume_identity(struct tcpm_port *port, const u32 *p, int cnt)
 	port->partner_ident.cert_stat = p[VDO_INDEX_CSTAT];
 	port->partner_ident.product = product;
 
-	typec_partner_set_identity(port->partner);
+	if (port->partner)
+		typec_partner_set_identity(port->partner);
 
 	tcpm_log(port, "Identity: %04x:%04x.%04x",
 		 PD_IDH_VID(vdo),
@@ -1573,6 +1574,9 @@ static void tcpm_register_partner_altmodes(struct tcpm_port *port)
 	struct typec_altmode *altmode;
 	int i;
 
+	if (!port->partner)
+		return;
+
 	for (i = 0; i < modep->altmodes; i++) {
 		altmode = typec_partner_register_altmode(port->partner,
 						&modep->altmode_desc[i]);
@@ -3522,7 +3526,10 @@ static int tcpm_init_vconn(struct tcpm_port *port)
 
 static void tcpm_typec_connect(struct tcpm_port *port)
 {
+	struct typec_partner *partner;
+
 	if (!port->connected) {
+		port->connected = true;
 		/* Make sure we don't report stale identity information */
 		memset(&port->partner_ident, 0, sizeof(port->partner_ident));
 		port->partner_desc.usb_pd = port->pd_capable;
@@ -3532,9 +3539,13 @@ static void tcpm_typec_connect(struct tcpm_port *port)
 			port->partner_desc.accessory = TYPEC_ACCESSORY_AUDIO;
 		else
 			port->partner_desc.accessory = TYPEC_ACCESSORY_NONE;
-		port->partner = typec_register_partner(port->typec_port,
-						       &port->partner_desc);
-		port->connected = true;
+		partner = typec_register_partner(port->typec_port, &port->partner_desc);
+		if (IS_ERR(partner)) {
+			dev_err(port->dev, "Failed to register partner (%ld)\n", PTR_ERR(partner));
+			return;
+		}
+
+		port->partner = partner;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -3603,8 +3614,10 @@ out_disable_mux:
 static void tcpm_typec_disconnect(struct tcpm_port *port)
 {
 	if (port->connected) {
-		typec_unregister_partner(port->partner);
-		port->partner = NULL;
+		if (port->partner) {
+			typec_unregister_partner(port->partner);
+			port->partner = NULL;
+		}
 		port->connected = false;
 	}
 }
@@ -3813,6 +3826,9 @@ static enum typec_cc_status tcpm_pwr_opmode_to_rp(enum typec_pwr_opmode opmode)
 
 static void tcpm_set_initial_svdm_version(struct tcpm_port *port)
 {
+	if (!port->partner)
+		return;
+
 	switch (port->negotiated_rev) {
 	case PD_REV30:
 		break;