diff --git a/drivers/media/i2c/ov2740.c b/drivers/media/i2c/ov2740.c
index 5d74ad479214..628ab86698c0 100644
--- a/drivers/media/i2c/ov2740.c
+++ b/drivers/media/i2c/ov2740.c
@@ -630,8 +630,10 @@ static int ov2740_init_controls(struct ov2740 *ov2740)
 				     V4L2_CID_TEST_PATTERN,
 				     ARRAY_SIZE(ov2740_test_pattern_menu) - 1,
 				     0, 0, ov2740_test_pattern_menu);
-	if (ctrl_hdlr->error)
+	if (ctrl_hdlr->error) {
+		v4l2_ctrl_handler_free(ctrl_hdlr);
 		return ctrl_hdlr->error;
+	}
 
 	ov2740->sd.ctrl_handler = ctrl_hdlr;