diff --git a/sound/usb/mixer_us16x08.c b/sound/usb/mixer_us16x08.c
index 73a0b9afdd70..f7289541fbce 100644
--- a/sound/usb/mixer_us16x08.c
+++ b/sound/usb/mixer_us16x08.c
@@ -1053,11 +1053,22 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_meter_store *snd_us16x08_create_meter_store(void)
 
 }
 
+/* release elem->private_free as well; called only once for each *_store */
+static void elem_private_free(struct snd_kcontrol *kctl)
+{
+	struct usb_mixer_elem_info *elem = kctl->private_data;
+
+	if (elem)
+		kfree(elem->private_data);
+	kfree(elem);
+	kctl->private_data = NULL;
+}
+
 static int add_new_ctl(struct usb_mixer_interface *mixer,
 	const struct snd_kcontrol_new *ncontrol,
 	int index, int val_type, int channels,
 	const char *name, const void *opt,
-	void (*freeer)(struct snd_kcontrol *kctl),
+	bool do_private_free,
 	struct usb_mixer_elem_info **elem_ret)
 {
 	struct snd_kcontrol *kctl;
@@ -1085,7 +1096,10 @@ static int add_new_ctl(struct usb_mixer_interface *mixer,
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	kctl->private_free = freeer;
+	if (do_private_free)
+		kctl->private_free = elem_private_free;
+	else
+		kctl->private_free = snd_usb_mixer_elem_free;
 
 	strlcpy(kctl->id.name, name, sizeof(kctl->id.name));
 
@@ -1109,7 +1123,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params eq_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_BOOLEAN,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "EQ Switch",
-		.freeer = snd_usb_mixer_elem_free
 	},
 	{ /* EQ low gain */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_eq_gain_ctl,
@@ -1117,7 +1130,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params eq_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "EQ Low Volume",
-		.freeer = snd_usb_mixer_elem_free
 	},
 	{ /* EQ low freq */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_eq_low_freq_ctl,
@@ -1125,7 +1137,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params eq_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "EQ Low Frequence",
-		.freeer = NULL
 	},
 	{ /* EQ mid low gain */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_eq_gain_ctl,
@@ -1133,7 +1144,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params eq_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "EQ MidLow Volume",
-		.freeer = snd_usb_mixer_elem_free
 	},
 	{ /* EQ mid low freq */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_eq_mid_freq_ctl,
@@ -1141,7 +1151,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params eq_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "EQ MidLow Frequence",
-		.freeer = NULL
 	},
 	{ /* EQ mid low Q */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_eq_mid_width_ctl,
@@ -1149,7 +1158,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params eq_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "EQ MidQLow Q",
-		.freeer = NULL
 	},
 	{ /* EQ mid high gain */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_eq_gain_ctl,
@@ -1157,7 +1165,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params eq_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "EQ MidHigh Volume",
-		.freeer = snd_usb_mixer_elem_free
 	},
 	{ /* EQ mid high freq */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_eq_mid_freq_ctl,
@@ -1165,7 +1172,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params eq_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "EQ MidHigh Frequence",
-		.freeer = NULL
 	},
 	{ /* EQ mid high Q */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_eq_mid_width_ctl,
@@ -1173,7 +1179,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params eq_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "EQ MidHigh Q",
-		.freeer = NULL
 	},
 	{ /* EQ high gain */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_eq_gain_ctl,
@@ -1181,7 +1186,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params eq_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "EQ High Volume",
-		.freeer = snd_usb_mixer_elem_free
 	},
 	{ /* EQ low freq */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_eq_high_freq_ctl,
@@ -1189,7 +1193,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params eq_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "EQ High Frequence",
-		.freeer = NULL
 	},
 };
 
@@ -1201,7 +1204,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params comp_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_BOOLEAN,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Compressor Switch",
-		.freeer = snd_usb_mixer_elem_free
 	},
 	{ /* Comp threshold */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_comp_threshold_ctl,
@@ -1209,7 +1211,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params comp_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Compressor Threshold Volume",
-		.freeer = NULL
 	},
 	{ /* Comp ratio */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_comp_ratio_ctl,
@@ -1217,7 +1218,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params comp_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Compressor Ratio",
-		.freeer = NULL
 	},
 	{ /* Comp attack */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_comp_attack_ctl,
@@ -1225,7 +1225,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params comp_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Compressor Attack",
-		.freeer = NULL
 	},
 	{ /* Comp release */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_comp_release_ctl,
@@ -1233,7 +1232,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params comp_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Compressor Release",
-		.freeer = NULL
 	},
 	{ /* Comp gain */
 		.kcontrol_new = &snd_us16x08_comp_gain_ctl,
@@ -1241,7 +1239,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params comp_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Compressor Volume",
-		.freeer = NULL
 	},
 };
 
@@ -1253,7 +1250,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params channel_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_BOOLEAN,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Phase Switch",
-		.freeer = snd_usb_mixer_elem_free,
 		.default_val = 0
 	},
 	{ /* Fader */
@@ -1262,7 +1258,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params channel_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Line Volume",
-		.freeer = NULL,
 		.default_val = 127
 	},
 	{ /* Mute */
@@ -1271,7 +1266,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params channel_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_BOOLEAN,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Mute Switch",
-		.freeer = NULL,
 		.default_val = 0
 	},
 	{ /* Pan */
@@ -1280,7 +1274,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params channel_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U16,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Pan Left-Right Volume",
-		.freeer = NULL,
 		.default_val = 127
 	},
 };
@@ -1293,7 +1286,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params master_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_U8,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Master Volume",
-		.freeer = NULL,
 		.default_val = 127
 	},
 	{ /* Bypass */
@@ -1302,7 +1294,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params master_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_BOOLEAN,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "DSP Bypass Switch",
-		.freeer = NULL,
 		.default_val = 0
 	},
 	{ /* Buss out */
@@ -1311,7 +1302,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params master_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_BOOLEAN,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Buss Out Switch",
-		.freeer = NULL,
 		.default_val = 0
 	},
 	{ /* Master mute */
@@ -1320,7 +1310,6 @@ static struct snd_us16x08_control_params master_controls[] = {
 		.type = USB_MIXER_BOOLEAN,
 		.num_channels = 16,
 		.name = "Master Mute Switch",
-		.freeer = NULL,
 		.default_val = 0
 	},
 
@@ -1338,30 +1327,10 @@ int snd_us16x08_controls_create(struct usb_mixer_interface *mixer)
 	/* just check for non-MIDI interface */
 	if (mixer->hostif->desc.bInterfaceNumber == 3) {
 
-		/* create compressor mixer elements */
-		comp_store = snd_us16x08_create_comp_store();
-		if (comp_store == NULL)
-			return -ENOMEM;
-
-		/* create eq store */
-		eq_store = snd_us16x08_create_eq_store();
-		if (eq_store == NULL) {
-			kfree(comp_store);
-			return -ENOMEM;
-		}
-
-		/* create meters store */
-		meter_store = snd_us16x08_create_meter_store();
-		if (meter_store == NULL) {
-			kfree(comp_store);
-			kfree(eq_store);
-			return -ENOMEM;
-		}
-
 		/* add routing control */
 		err = add_new_ctl(mixer, &snd_us16x08_route_ctl,
 			SND_US16X08_ID_ROUTE, USB_MIXER_U8, 8, "Line Out Route",
-			NULL, NULL, &elem);
+			NULL, false, &elem);
 		if (err < 0) {
 			usb_audio_dbg(mixer->chip,
 				"Failed to create route control, err:%d\n",
@@ -1372,6 +1341,11 @@ int snd_us16x08_controls_create(struct usb_mixer_interface *mixer)
 			elem->cache_val[i] = i < 2 ? i : i + 2;
 		elem->cached = 0xff;
 
+		/* create compressor mixer elements */
+		comp_store = snd_us16x08_create_comp_store();
+		if (!comp_store)
+			return -ENOMEM;
+
 		/* add master controls */
 		for (i = 0;
 			i < sizeof(master_controls)
@@ -1385,7 +1359,8 @@ int snd_us16x08_controls_create(struct usb_mixer_interface *mixer)
 				master_controls[i].num_channels,
 				master_controls[i].name,
 				comp_store,
-				master_controls[i].freeer, &elem);
+				i == 0, /* release comp_store only once */
+				&elem);
 			if (err < 0)
 				return err;
 			elem->cache_val[0] = master_controls[i].default_val;
@@ -1405,7 +1380,7 @@ int snd_us16x08_controls_create(struct usb_mixer_interface *mixer)
 				channel_controls[i].num_channels,
 				channel_controls[i].name,
 				comp_store,
-				channel_controls[i].freeer, &elem);
+				false, &elem);
 			if (err < 0)
 				return err;
 			for (j = 0; j < SND_US16X08_MAX_CHANNELS; j++) {
@@ -1415,6 +1390,11 @@ int snd_us16x08_controls_create(struct usb_mixer_interface *mixer)
 			elem->cached = 0xffff;
 		}
 
+		/* create eq store */
+		eq_store = snd_us16x08_create_eq_store();
+		if (!eq_store)
+			return -ENOMEM;
+
 		/* add EQ controls */
 		for (i = 0; i < sizeof(eq_controls) /
 			sizeof(control_params); i++) {
@@ -1426,7 +1406,8 @@ int snd_us16x08_controls_create(struct usb_mixer_interface *mixer)
 				eq_controls[i].num_channels,
 				eq_controls[i].name,
 				eq_store,
-				eq_controls[i].freeer, NULL);
+				i == 0, /* release eq_store only once */
+				NULL);
 			if (err < 0)
 				return err;
 		}
@@ -1444,18 +1425,23 @@ int snd_us16x08_controls_create(struct usb_mixer_interface *mixer)
 				comp_controls[i].num_channels,
 				comp_controls[i].name,
 				comp_store,
-				comp_controls[i].freeer, NULL);
+				false, NULL);
 			if (err < 0)
 				return err;
 		}
 
+		/* create meters store */
+		meter_store = snd_us16x08_create_meter_store();
+		if (!meter_store)
+			return -ENOMEM;
+
 		/* meter function 'get' must access to compressor store
 		 * so place a reference here
 		 */
 		meter_store->comp_store = comp_store;
 		err = add_new_ctl(mixer, &snd_us16x08_meter_ctl,
 			SND_US16X08_ID_METER, USB_MIXER_U16, 0, "Level Meter",
-			(void *) meter_store, snd_usb_mixer_elem_free, NULL);
+			meter_store, true, NULL);
 		if (err < 0)
 			return err;
 	}
diff --git a/sound/usb/mixer_us16x08.h b/sound/usb/mixer_us16x08.h
index 64f89b5eca2d..a6312fb0f962 100644
--- a/sound/usb/mixer_us16x08.h
+++ b/sound/usb/mixer_us16x08.h
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ struct snd_us16x08_control_params {
 	int type;
 	int num_channels;
 	const char *name;
-	void (*freeer)(struct snd_kcontrol *kctl);
 	int default_val;
 };