static int mct_u232_port_probe(struct usb_serial_port *port)
 {
+       struct usb_serial *serial = port->serial;
        struct mct_u232_private *priv;
 
+       /* check first to simplify error handling */
+       if (!serial->port[1] || !serial->port[1]->interrupt_in_urb) {
+               dev_err(&port->dev, "expected endpoint missing\n");
+               return -ENODEV;
+       }
+
        priv = kzalloc(sizeof(*priv), GFP_KERNEL);
        if (!priv)
                return -ENOMEM;
 
        /* Use second interrupt-in endpoint for reading. */
-       priv->read_urb = port->serial->port[1]->interrupt_in_urb;
+       priv->read_urb = serial->port[1]->interrupt_in_urb;
        priv->read_urb->context = port;
 
        spin_lock_init(&priv->lock);