diff --git a/drivers/rptun/rptun.c b/drivers/rptun/rptun.c
index d38bdc2d1e5..a28d598d2a6 100644
--- a/drivers/rptun/rptun.c
+++ b/drivers/rptun/rptun.c
@@ -1194,6 +1194,8 @@ int rptun_initialize(FAR struct rptun_dev_s *dev)
       goto err_driver;
     }
 
+  nxsem_init(&priv->semtx, 0, 0);
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_RPTUN_WORKQUEUE
   if (RPTUN_IS_AUTOSTART(dev))
     {
@@ -1221,13 +1223,12 @@ int rptun_initialize(FAR struct rptun_dev_s *dev)
   if (ret < 0)
     {
       unregister_driver(name);
+      nxsem_destroy(&priv->semtx);
       nxsem_destroy(&priv->semrx);
       goto err_driver;
     }
 #endif
 
-  nxsem_init(&priv->semtx, 0, 0);
-
   /* Add priv to list */
 
   nxrmutex_lock(&g_rptun_lockcb);