diff --git a/drivers/md/raid5.c b/drivers/md/raid5.c
index e57ce3295292..8dc98f545969 100644
--- a/drivers/md/raid5.c
+++ b/drivers/md/raid5.c
@@ -7187,12 +7187,14 @@ raid5_store_group_thread_cnt(struct mddev *mddev, const char *page, size_t len)
 	err = mddev_suspend_and_lock(mddev);
 	if (err)
 		return err;
+	conf = mddev->private;
+	if (!conf) {
+		mddev_unlock_and_resume(mddev);
+		return -ENODEV;
+	}
 	raid5_quiesce(mddev, true);
 
-	conf = mddev->private;
-	if (!conf)
-		err = -ENODEV;
-	else if (new != conf->worker_cnt_per_group) {
+	if (new != conf->worker_cnt_per_group) {
 		old_groups = conf->worker_groups;
 		if (old_groups)
 			flush_workqueue(raid5_wq);