diff --git a/drivers/mmcsd/mmcsd_spi.c b/drivers/mmcsd/mmcsd_spi.c
index 95c7872ea7e..9ed7dcd73f7 100644
--- a/drivers/mmcsd/mmcsd_spi.c
+++ b/drivers/mmcsd/mmcsd_spi.c
@@ -1734,7 +1734,6 @@ static int mmcsd_mediainitialize(FAR struct mmcsd_slot_s *slot)
     {
       ferr("ERROR: Send CMD0 failed: R1=%02" PRIx32 "\n", result);
       SPI_SELECT(spi, SPIDEV_MMCSD(0), false);
-      mmcsd_unlock(slot);
       return -EIO;
     }
 
@@ -1865,7 +1864,6 @@ static int mmcsd_mediainitialize(FAR struct mmcsd_slot_s *slot)
         {
           ferr("ERROR: Failed to exit IDLE state\n");
           SPI_SELECT(spi, SPIDEV_MMCSD(0), false);
-          mmcsd_unlock(slot);
           return -EIO;
         }
     }
@@ -1874,7 +1872,6 @@ static int mmcsd_mediainitialize(FAR struct mmcsd_slot_s *slot)
     {
       ferr("ERROR: Failed to identify card\n");
       SPI_SELECT(spi, SPIDEV_MMCSD(0), false);
-      mmcsd_unlock(slot);
       return -EIO;
     }
 
@@ -1886,7 +1883,6 @@ static int mmcsd_mediainitialize(FAR struct mmcsd_slot_s *slot)
     {
       ferr("ERROR: mmcsd_getcsd(CMD9) failed: %" PRId32 "\n", result);
       SPI_SELECT(spi, SPIDEV_MMCSD(0), false);
-      mmcsd_unlock(slot);
       return -EIO;
     }