diff --git a/drivers/misc/atmel_pwm.c b/drivers/misc/atmel_pwm.c
index 494d0500bda6483a9f3d93f6287075d5f0825448..a6dc56e1bc58e70566bd6321bca1ae1191519b3b 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/atmel_pwm.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/atmel_pwm.c
@@ -90,8 +90,10 @@ int pwm_channel_alloc(int index, struct pwm_channel *ch)
 	unsigned long	flags;
 	int		status = 0;
 
-	/* insist on PWM init, with this signal pinned out */
-	if (!pwm || !(pwm->mask & 1 << index))
+	if (!pwm)
+		return -EPROBE_DEFER;
+
+	if (!(pwm->mask & 1 << index))
 		return -ENODEV;
 
 	if (index < 0 || index >= PWM_NCHAN || !ch)