diff --git a/kernel/hw_breakpoint.c b/kernel/hw_breakpoint.c
index 50dbd59..c030ae6 100644
--- a/kernel/hw_breakpoint.c
+++ b/kernel/hw_breakpoint.c
@@ -296,6 +296,10 @@
 	if (!bp->attr.disabled || !bp->overflow_handler)
 		ret = arch_validate_hwbkpt_settings(bp, bp->ctx->task);
 
+	/* if arch_validate_hwbkpt_settings() fails then release bp slot */
+	if (ret)
+		release_bp_slot(bp);
+
 	return ret;
 }