diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-mem.c b/drivers/spi/spi-mem.c
index de0ba3e5449fa..33115bcfc787e 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-mem.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-mem.c
@@ -237,6 +237,7 @@ static int spi_mem_access_start(struct spi_mem *mem)
 
 		ret = pm_runtime_get_sync(ctlr->dev.parent);
 		if (ret < 0) {
+			pm_runtime_put_noidle(ctlr->dev.parent);
 			dev_err(&ctlr->dev, "Failed to power device: %d\n",
 				ret);
 			return ret;