diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/link/link_detection.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/link/link_detection.c
index 0717f69f7c45..f3ba8e2a6fae 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/link/link_detection.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/dc/link/link_detection.c
@@ -958,8 +958,11 @@ static bool detect_link_and_local_sink(struct dc_link *link,
 			    link->link_enc->features.flags.bits.DP_IS_USB_C == 1) {
 
 				/* if alt mode times out, return false */
-				if (!wait_for_entering_dp_alt_mode(link))
+				if (!wait_for_entering_dp_alt_mode(link)) {
+					if (prev_sink)
+						dc_sink_release(prev_sink);
 					return false;
+				}
 			}
 
 			if (!detect_dp(link, &sink_caps, reason)) {