port->partner_ident.cert_stat = p[VDO_INDEX_CSTAT];
        port->partner_ident.product = product;
 
-       typec_partner_set_identity(port->partner);
+       if (port->partner)
+               typec_partner_set_identity(port->partner);
 
        tcpm_log(port, "Identity: %04x:%04x.%04x",
                 PD_IDH_VID(vdo),
        struct typec_altmode *altmode;
        int i;
 
+       if (!port->partner)
+               return;
+
        for (i = 0; i < modep->altmodes; i++) {
                altmode = typec_partner_register_altmode(port->partner,
                                                &modep->altmode_desc[i]);
 
 static void tcpm_typec_connect(struct tcpm_port *port)
 {
+       struct typec_partner *partner;
+
        if (!port->connected) {
+               port->connected = true;
                /* Make sure we don't report stale identity information */
                memset(&port->partner_ident, 0, sizeof(port->partner_ident));
                port->partner_desc.usb_pd = port->pd_capable;
                        port->partner_desc.accessory = TYPEC_ACCESSORY_AUDIO;
                else
                        port->partner_desc.accessory = TYPEC_ACCESSORY_NONE;
-               port->partner = typec_register_partner(port->typec_port,
-                                                      &port->partner_desc);
-               port->connected = true;
+               partner = typec_register_partner(port->typec_port, &port->partner_desc);
+               if (IS_ERR(partner)) {
+                       dev_err(port->dev, "Failed to register partner (%ld)\n", PTR_ERR(partner));
+                       return;
+               }
+
+               port->partner = partner;
                typec_partner_set_usb_power_delivery(port->partner, port->partner_pd);
        }
 }
        port->plug_prime = NULL;
        port->cable = NULL;
        if (port->connected) {
-               typec_partner_set_usb_power_delivery(port->partner, NULL);
-               typec_unregister_partner(port->partner);
-               port->partner = NULL;
+               if (port->partner) {
+                       typec_partner_set_usb_power_delivery(port->partner, NULL);
+                       typec_unregister_partner(port->partner);
+                       port->partner = NULL;
+               }
                port->connected = false;
        }
 }
 
 static void tcpm_set_initial_svdm_version(struct tcpm_port *port)
 {
+       if (!port->partner)
+               return;
+
        switch (port->negotiated_rev) {
        case PD_REV30:
                break;