diff --git a/sound/core/timer.c b/sound/core/timer.c
index 19d90aa0..e944d27 100644
--- a/sound/core/timer.c
+++ b/sound/core/timer.c
@@ -297,11 +297,11 @@
 		goto unlock;
 	}
 	if (!list_empty(&timer->open_list_head)) {
-		timeri = list_entry(timer->open_list_head.next,
+		struct snd_timer_instance *t =
+			list_entry(timer->open_list_head.next,
 				    struct snd_timer_instance, open_list);
-		if (timeri->flags & SNDRV_TIMER_IFLG_EXCLUSIVE) {
+		if (t->flags & SNDRV_TIMER_IFLG_EXCLUSIVE) {
 			err = -EBUSY;
-			timeri = NULL;
 			goto unlock;
 		}
 	}