diff --git a/net/qrtr/ns.c b/net/qrtr/ns.c
index 600d9f435a46..aa78ca096650 100644
--- a/net/qrtr/ns.c
+++ b/net/qrtr/ns.c
@@ -717,6 +717,10 @@ void qrtr_ns_init(void)
 		goto err_sock;
 	}
 
+	qrtr_ns.workqueue = alloc_workqueue("qrtr_ns_handler", WQ_UNBOUND, 1);
+	if (!qrtr_ns.workqueue)
+		goto err_sock;
+
 	qrtr_ns.sock->sk->sk_data_ready = qrtr_ns_data_ready;
 
 	sq.sq_port = QRTR_PORT_CTRL;
@@ -725,17 +729,13 @@ void qrtr_ns_init(void)
 	ret = kernel_bind(qrtr_ns.sock, (struct sockaddr *)&sq, sizeof(sq));
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		pr_err("failed to bind to socket\n");
-		goto err_sock;
+		goto err_wq;
 	}
 
 	qrtr_ns.bcast_sq.sq_family = AF_QIPCRTR;
 	qrtr_ns.bcast_sq.sq_node = QRTR_NODE_BCAST;
 	qrtr_ns.bcast_sq.sq_port = QRTR_PORT_CTRL;
 
-	qrtr_ns.workqueue = alloc_workqueue("qrtr_ns_handler", WQ_UNBOUND, 1);
-	if (!qrtr_ns.workqueue)
-		goto err_sock;
-
 	ret = say_hello(&qrtr_ns.bcast_sq);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto err_wq;