static
 DECLARE_TLV_DB_SCALE(juli_master_db_scale, -6350, 50, 1);
 
-static void add_followers(struct snd_card *card,
-                         struct snd_kcontrol *master,
-                         const char * const *list)
-{
-       for (; *list; list++) {
-               struct snd_kcontrol *follower =
-                       snd_ctl_find_id_mixer(card, *list);
-               /* dev_dbg(card->dev, "add_followers - %s\n", *list); */
-               if (follower) {
-                       /* dev_dbg(card->dev, "follower %s found\n", *list); */
-                       snd_ctl_add_follower(master, follower);
-               }
-       }
-}
-
 static int juli_add_controls(struct snd_ice1712 *ice)
 {
        struct juli_spec *spec = ice->spec;
                                              juli_master_db_scale);
        if (!vmaster)
                return -ENOMEM;
-       add_followers(ice->card, vmaster, follower_vols);
        err = snd_ctl_add(ice->card, vmaster);
+       if (err < 0)
+               return err;
+       err = snd_ctl_add_followers(ice->card, vmaster, follower_vols);
        if (err < 0)
                return err;
 
 
 static
 DECLARE_TLV_DB_SCALE(qtet_master_db_scale, -6350, 50, 1);
 
-static void add_followers(struct snd_card *card,
-                         struct snd_kcontrol *master, const char * const *list)
-{
-       for (; *list; list++) {
-               struct snd_kcontrol *follower =
-                       snd_ctl_find_id_mixer(card, *list);
-               if (follower)
-                       snd_ctl_add_follower(master, follower);
-       }
-}
-
 static int qtet_add_controls(struct snd_ice1712 *ice)
 {
        struct qtet_spec *spec = ice->spec;
                        qtet_master_db_scale);
        if (!vmaster)
                return -ENOMEM;
-       add_followers(ice->card, vmaster, follower_vols);
        err = snd_ctl_add(ice->card, vmaster);
+       if (err < 0)
+               return err;
+       err = snd_ctl_add_followers(ice->card, vmaster, follower_vols);
        if (err < 0)
                return err;
        /* only capture SPDIF over AK4113 */