diff --git a/drivers/dma/dmaengine.c b/drivers/dma/dmaengine.c
index e057935e302319..a5da0e147560c5 100644
--- a/drivers/dma/dmaengine.c
+++ b/drivers/dma/dmaengine.c
@@ -222,31 +222,33 @@ static void balance_ref_count(struct dma_chan *chan)
  */
 static int dma_chan_get(struct dma_chan *chan)
 {
-	int err = -ENODEV;
 	struct module *owner = dma_chan_to_owner(chan);
+	int ret;
 
+	/* The channel is already in use, update client count */
 	if (chan->client_count) {
 		__module_get(owner);
-		err = 0;
-	} else if (try_module_get(owner))
-		err = 0;
+		goto out;
+	}
 
-	if (err == 0)
-		chan->client_count++;
+	if (!try_module_get(owner))
+		return -ENODEV;
 
 	/* allocate upon first client reference */
-	if (chan->client_count == 1 && err == 0) {
-		int desc_cnt = chan->device->device_alloc_chan_resources(chan);
-
-		if (desc_cnt < 0) {
-			err = desc_cnt;
-			chan->client_count = 0;
-			module_put(owner);
-		} else if (!dma_has_cap(DMA_PRIVATE, chan->device->cap_mask))
-			balance_ref_count(chan);
-	}
+	ret = chan->device->device_alloc_chan_resources(chan);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		goto err_out;
 
-	return err;
+	if (!dma_has_cap(DMA_PRIVATE, chan->device->cap_mask))
+		balance_ref_count(chan);
+
+out:
+	chan->client_count++;
+	return 0;
+
+err_out:
+	module_put(owner);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 /**