diff --git a/drivers/net/can/m_can/m_can.c b/drivers/net/can/m_can/m_can.c
index 2395b1225cc8..fb77fd74de27 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/m_can/m_can.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/m_can/m_can.c
@@ -1871,7 +1871,7 @@ static int m_can_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	/* start the m_can controller */
 	err = m_can_start(dev);
 	if (err)
-		goto exit_irq_fail;
+		goto exit_start_fail;
 
 	if (!cdev->is_peripheral)
 		napi_enable(&cdev->napi);
@@ -1880,6 +1880,9 @@ static int m_can_open(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	return 0;
 
+exit_start_fail:
+	if (cdev->is_peripheral || dev->irq)
+		free_irq(dev->irq, dev);
 exit_irq_fail:
 	if (cdev->is_peripheral)
 		destroy_workqueue(cdev->tx_wq);