diff --git a/src/mixer/mixer.c b/src/mixer/mixer.c
index 56e023db..eee9875b 100644
--- a/src/mixer/mixer.c
+++ b/src/mixer/mixer.c
@@ -204,10 +204,8 @@ int snd_mixer_attach(snd_mixer_t *mixer, const char *name)
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 	err = snd_mixer_attach_hctl(mixer, hctl);
-	if (err < 0) {
-		snd_hctl_close(hctl);
+	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
-	}
 	return 0;
 }