diff --git a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_usb6501.c b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_usb6501.c
index 95b537a8ecdb..83a7eb894c86 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_usb6501.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/ni_usb6501.c
@@ -527,6 +527,9 @@ static int ni6501_auto_attach(struct comedi_device *dev,
 	if (!devpriv)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
+	mutex_init(&devpriv->mut);
+	usb_set_intfdata(intf, devpriv);
+
 	ret = ni6501_find_endpoints(dev);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
@@ -535,9 +538,6 @@ static int ni6501_auto_attach(struct comedi_device *dev,
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	mutex_init(&devpriv->mut);
-	usb_set_intfdata(intf, devpriv);
-
 	ret = comedi_alloc_subdevices(dev, 2);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;