diff --git a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c
index 66dc5f97a0098..6132c5b3db9c7 100644
--- a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c
+++ b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etr.c
@@ -1173,16 +1173,6 @@ static struct etr_buf *tmc_etr_get_sysfs_buffer(struct coresight_device *csdev)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * In sysFS mode we can have multiple writers per sink.  Since this
-	 * sink is already enabled no memory is needed and the HW need not be
-	 * touched, even if the buffer size has changed.
-	 */
-	if (drvdata->mode == CS_MODE_SYSFS) {
-		atomic_inc(&csdev->refcnt);
-		goto out;
-	}
-
 	/*
 	 * If we don't have a buffer or it doesn't match the requested size,
 	 * use the buffer allocated above. Otherwise reuse the existing buffer.
@@ -1204,7 +1194,7 @@ static struct etr_buf *tmc_etr_get_sysfs_buffer(struct coresight_device *csdev)
 
 static int tmc_enable_etr_sink_sysfs(struct coresight_device *csdev)
 {
-	int ret;
+	int ret = 0;
 	unsigned long flags;
 	struct tmc_drvdata *drvdata = dev_get_drvdata(csdev->dev.parent);
 	struct etr_buf *sysfs_buf = tmc_etr_get_sysfs_buffer(csdev);
@@ -1213,12 +1203,24 @@ static int tmc_enable_etr_sink_sysfs(struct coresight_device *csdev)
 		return PTR_ERR(sysfs_buf);
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&drvdata->spinlock, flags);
+
+	/*
+	 * In sysFS mode we can have multiple writers per sink.  Since this
+	 * sink is already enabled no memory is needed and the HW need not be
+	 * touched, even if the buffer size has changed.
+	 */
+	if (drvdata->mode == CS_MODE_SYSFS) {
+		atomic_inc(&csdev->refcnt);
+		goto out;
+	}
+
 	ret = tmc_etr_enable_hw(drvdata, sysfs_buf);
 	if (!ret) {
 		drvdata->mode = CS_MODE_SYSFS;
 		atomic_inc(&csdev->refcnt);
 	}
 
+out:
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&drvdata->spinlock, flags);
 
 	if (!ret)