diff --git a/sys/dev/mmc/mmc.c b/sys/dev/mmc/mmc.c
index 29b3645bead..74d0549ca49 100644
--- a/sys/dev/mmc/mmc.c
+++ b/sys/dev/mmc/mmc.c
@@ -412,7 +412,6 @@ static int
 mmc_release_bus(device_t busdev, device_t dev)
 {
 	struct mmc_softc *sc;
-	int err;
 
 	sc = device_get_softc(busdev);
 
@@ -421,14 +420,9 @@ mmc_release_bus(device_t busdev, device_t dev)
 		panic("mmc: releasing unowned bus.");
 	if (sc->owner != dev)
 		panic("mmc: you don't own the bus.  game over.");
-	MMC_UNLOCK(sc);
-	err = MMCBR_RELEASE_HOST(device_get_parent(busdev), busdev);
-	if (err)
-		return (err);
-	MMC_LOCK(sc);
 	sc->owner = NULL;
 	MMC_UNLOCK(sc);
-	return (0);
+	return (MMCBR_RELEASE_HOST(device_get_parent(busdev), busdev));
 }
 
 static uint32_t