diff --git a/src/control/control_hw.c b/src/control/control_hw.c
index cf258b43..16c4987d 100644
--- a/src/control/control_hw.c
+++ b/src/control/control_hw.c
@@ -414,6 +414,7 @@ int snd_ctl_hw_open(snd_ctl_t **handle, const char *name, int card, int mode)
 	if (err < 0) {
 		close(fd);
 		free(hw);
+		return err;
 	}
 	ctl->ops = &snd_ctl_hw_ops;
 	ctl->private_data = hw;