diff --git a/drivers/ata/pata_pxa.c b/drivers/ata/pata_pxa.c
index 821bcf20741e..de9ac851f6a5 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/pata_pxa.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/pata_pxa.c
@@ -287,6 +287,7 @@ static int pxa_ata_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	ret = dmaengine_slave_config(data->dma_chan, &config);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "dma configuration failed: %d\n", ret);
+		dma_release_channel(data->dma_chan);
 		return ret;
 	}