diff --git a/sound/core/hwdep.c b/sound/core/hwdep.c
index 195cafc..a70ee7f 100644
--- a/sound/core/hwdep.c
+++ b/sound/core/hwdep.c
@@ -99,9 +99,6 @@
 	if (hw == NULL)
 		return -ENODEV;
 
-	if (!hw->ops.open)
-		return -ENXIO;
-
 	if (!try_module_get(hw->card->module))
 		return -EFAULT;
 
@@ -113,6 +110,10 @@
 			err = -EBUSY;
 			break;
 		}
+		if (!hw->ops.open) {
+			err = 0;
+			break;
+		}
 		err = hw->ops.open(hw, file);
 		if (err >= 0)
 			break;
@@ -151,7 +152,7 @@
 
 static int snd_hwdep_release(struct inode *inode, struct file * file)
 {
-	int err = -ENXIO;
+	int err = 0;
 	struct snd_hwdep *hw = file->private_data;
 	struct module *mod = hw->card->module;