diff --git a/sound/soc/sh/rcar/ssi.c b/sound/soc/sh/rcar/ssi.c
index 5b89723c3206..927ac52a6d1e 100644
--- a/sound/soc/sh/rcar/ssi.c
+++ b/sound/soc/sh/rcar/ssi.c
@@ -232,8 +232,10 @@ static void rsnd_ssi_hw_stop(struct rsnd_ssi *ssi)
 	struct device *dev = rsnd_priv_to_dev(priv);
 	u32 cr;
 
-	if (0 == ssi->usrcnt) /* stop might be called without start */
+	if (0 == ssi->usrcnt) {
+		dev_err(dev, "%s called without starting\n", __func__);
 		return;
+	}
 
 	ssi->usrcnt--;