diff --git a/sound/isa/gus/gus_pcm.c b/sound/isa/gus/gus_pcm.c
index 230f65a0e4b0..388db5fb65bd 100644
--- a/sound/isa/gus/gus_pcm.c
+++ b/sound/isa/gus/gus_pcm.c
@@ -892,10 +892,10 @@ int snd_gf1_pcm_new(struct snd_gus_card *gus, int pcm_dev, int control_index)
 		kctl = snd_ctl_new1(&snd_gf1_pcm_volume_control1, gus);
 	else
 		kctl = snd_ctl_new1(&snd_gf1_pcm_volume_control, gus);
+	kctl->id.index = control_index;
 	err = snd_ctl_add(card, kctl);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
-	kctl->id.index = control_index;
 
 	return 0;
 }