__func__, instance);
                instance->alsa_stream = alsa_stream;
                alsa_stream->instance = instance;
-               ret = 0; // xxx todo -1;
-               goto err_free_mem;
+               return 0;
        }
 
        /* Initialize and create a VCHI connection */
                        LOG_ERR("%s: failed to initialise VCHI instance (ret=%d)\n",
                                __func__, ret);
 
-                       ret = -EIO;
-                       goto err_free_mem;
+                       return -EIO;
                }
                ret = vchi_connect(NULL, 0, vchi_instance);
                if (ret) {
                        LOG_ERR("%s: failed to connect VCHI instance (ret=%d)\n",
                                __func__, ret);
 
-                       ret = -EIO;
-                       goto err_free_mem;
+                       kfree(vchi_instance);
+                       return -EIO;
                }
                initted = 1;
        }
        if (IS_ERR(instance)) {
                LOG_ERR("%s: failed to initialize audio service\n", __func__);
 
-               ret = PTR_ERR(instance);
-               goto err_free_mem;
+               /* vchi_instance is retained for use the next time. */
+               return PTR_ERR(instance);
        }
 
        instance->alsa_stream = alsa_stream;
        alsa_stream->instance = instance;
 
        LOG_DBG(" success !\n");
-       ret = 0;
-err_free_mem:
-       kfree(vchi_instance);
 
-       return ret;
+       return 0;
 }
 
 int bcm2835_audio_open(struct bcm2835_alsa_stream *alsa_stream)