diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlegacy/4965-mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlegacy/4965-mac.c
index 28675a4ad861..12cf22d0e994 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlegacy/4965-mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlegacy/4965-mac.c
@@ -6212,10 +6212,12 @@ out:
 	mutex_unlock(&il->mutex);
 }
 
-static void
+static int
 il4965_setup_deferred_work(struct il_priv *il)
 {
 	il->workqueue = create_singlethread_workqueue(DRV_NAME);
+	if (!il->workqueue)
+		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	init_waitqueue_head(&il->wait_command_queue);
 
@@ -6234,6 +6236,8 @@ il4965_setup_deferred_work(struct il_priv *il)
 	timer_setup(&il->watchdog, il_bg_watchdog, 0);
 
 	tasklet_setup(&il->irq_tasklet, il4965_irq_tasklet);
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -6623,7 +6627,10 @@ il4965_pci_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 		goto out_disable_msi;
 	}
 
-	il4965_setup_deferred_work(il);
+	err = il4965_setup_deferred_work(il);
+	if (err)
+		goto out_free_irq;
+
 	il4965_setup_handlers(il);
 
 	/*********************************************
@@ -6661,6 +6668,7 @@ il4965_pci_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 out_destroy_workqueue:
 	destroy_workqueue(il->workqueue);
 	il->workqueue = NULL;
+out_free_irq:
 	free_irq(il->pci_dev->irq, il);
 out_disable_msi:
 	pci_disable_msi(il->pci_dev);