diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_table.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_table.c
index e178d8d3dbc9d..077b4bec1b136 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_table.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_table.c
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ int mlx5dr_table_set_miss_action(struct mlx5dr_table *tbl,
 	struct mlx5dr_matcher *last_matcher = NULL;
 	struct mlx5dr_htbl_connect_info info;
 	struct mlx5dr_ste_htbl *last_htbl;
-	int ret;
+	int ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
 
 	if (action && action->action_type != DR_ACTION_TYP_FT)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ int mlx5dr_table_set_miss_action(struct mlx5dr_table *tbl,
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (ret)
+		goto out;
+
 	/* Release old action */
 	if (tbl->miss_action)
 		refcount_dec(&tbl->miss_action->refcount);