diff --git a/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c b/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
index ee44a46a66be..6a1f3910934d 100644
--- a/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
+++ b/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
@@ -928,7 +928,7 @@ static int fb_check_foreignness(struct fb_info *fi)
 
 static int do_register_framebuffer(struct fb_info *fb_info)
 {
-	int i;
+	int i, err = 0;
 	struct fb_videomode mode;
 
 	if (fb_check_foreignness(fb_info))
@@ -937,10 +937,18 @@ static int do_register_framebuffer(struct fb_info *fb_info)
 	if (num_registered_fb == FB_MAX)
 		return -ENXIO;
 
-	num_registered_fb++;
 	for (i = 0 ; i < FB_MAX; i++)
 		if (!registered_fb[i])
 			break;
+
+	if (!fb_info->modelist.prev || !fb_info->modelist.next)
+		INIT_LIST_HEAD(&fb_info->modelist);
+
+	fb_var_to_videomode(&mode, &fb_info->var);
+	err = fb_add_videomode(&mode, &fb_info->modelist);
+	if (err < 0)
+		return err;
+
 	fb_info->node = i;
 	refcount_set(&fb_info->count, 1);
 	mutex_init(&fb_info->lock);
@@ -966,16 +974,12 @@ static int do_register_framebuffer(struct fb_info *fb_info)
 	if (!fb_info->pixmap.blit_y)
 		fb_info->pixmap.blit_y = ~(u32)0;
 
-	if (!fb_info->modelist.prev || !fb_info->modelist.next)
-		INIT_LIST_HEAD(&fb_info->modelist);
-
 	if (fb_info->skip_vt_switch)
 		pm_vt_switch_required(fb_info->device, false);
 	else
 		pm_vt_switch_required(fb_info->device, true);
 
-	fb_var_to_videomode(&mode, &fb_info->var);
-	fb_add_videomode(&mode, &fb_info->modelist);
+	num_registered_fb++;
 	registered_fb[i] = fb_info;
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_GUMSTIX_AM200EPD