{
        struct cti_config *config = &drvdata->config;
        struct coresight_device *csdev = drvdata->csdev;
+       int ret = 0;
 
        spin_lock(&drvdata->spinlock);
 
+       /* don't allow negative refcounts, return an error */
+       if (!atomic_read(&drvdata->config.enable_req_count)) {
+               ret = -EINVAL;
+               goto cti_not_disabled;
+       }
+
        /* check refcount - disable on 0 */
        if (atomic_dec_return(&drvdata->config.enable_req_count) > 0)
                goto cti_not_disabled;
        coresight_disclaim_device_unlocked(csdev);
        CS_LOCK(drvdata->base);
        spin_unlock(&drvdata->spinlock);
-       return 0;
+       return ret;
 
        /* not disabled this call */
 cti_not_disabled:
        spin_unlock(&drvdata->spinlock);
-       return 0;
+       return ret;
 }
 
 void cti_write_single_reg(struct cti_drvdata *drvdata, int offset, u32 value)