case QED_SPQ_MODE_BLOCK:
                if (!p_data->p_comp_data)
-                       return -EINVAL;
+                       goto err;
 
                p_ent->comp_cb.cookie = p_data->p_comp_data->cookie;
                break;
        default:
                DP_NOTICE(p_hwfn, "Unknown SPQE completion mode %d\n",
                          p_ent->comp_mode);
-               return -EINVAL;
+               goto err;
        }
 
        DP_VERBOSE(p_hwfn, QED_MSG_SPQ,
        memset(&p_ent->ramrod, 0, sizeof(p_ent->ramrod));
 
        return 0;
+
+err:
+       /* qed_spq_get_entry() can either get an entry from the free_pool,
+        * or, if no entries are left, allocate a new entry and add it to
+        * the unlimited_pending list.
+        */
+       if (p_ent->queue == &p_hwfn->p_spq->unlimited_pending)
+               kfree(p_ent);
+       else
+               qed_spq_return_entry(p_hwfn, p_ent);
+
+       return -EINVAL;
 }
 
 static enum tunnel_clss qed_tunn_clss_to_fw_clss(u8 type)