diff --git a/drivers/crypto/qat/qat_common/adf_cfg.c b/drivers/crypto/qat/qat_common/adf_cfg.c
index 1931e5b37f2bd..368d14d81503c 100644
--- a/drivers/crypto/qat/qat_common/adf_cfg.c
+++ b/drivers/crypto/qat/qat_common/adf_cfg.c
@@ -276,17 +276,19 @@ int adf_cfg_add_key_value_param(struct adf_accel_dev *accel_dev,
 	 * 3. if the key exists with the same value, then return without doing
 	 *    anything (the newly created key_val is freed).
 	 */
+	down_write(&cfg->lock);
 	if (!adf_cfg_key_val_get(accel_dev, section_name, key, temp_val)) {
 		if (strncmp(temp_val, key_val->val, sizeof(temp_val))) {
 			adf_cfg_keyval_remove(key, section);
 		} else {
 			kfree(key_val);
-			return 0;
+			goto out;
 		}
 	}
 
-	down_write(&cfg->lock);
 	adf_cfg_keyval_add(key_val, section);
+
+out:
 	up_write(&cfg->lock);
 	return 0;
 }