diff --git a/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c b/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c
index e10b63d28d9a..8356111451ad 100644
--- a/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c
+++ b/src/audio/multiband_drc/multiband_drc.c
@@ -64,20 +64,25 @@ static void multiband_drc_reset_state(struct multiband_drc_state *state)
 		multiband_drc_iir_reset_state_ch(&state->deemphasis[i]);
 }
 
-static int multiband_drc_eq_init_coef_ch(struct sof_eq_iir_biquad *coef,
+static int multiband_drc_eq_init_coef_ch(struct comp_dev *dev, struct sof_eq_iir_biquad *coef,
 					 struct iir_state_df2t *eq)
 {
 	int ret;
 
 	eq->coef = rzalloc(SOF_MEM_ZONE_RUNTIME, 0, SOF_MEM_CAPS_RAM,
 			   sizeof(struct sof_eq_iir_biquad) * SOF_EMP_DEEMP_BIQUADS);
-	if (!eq->coef)
+	if (!eq->coef) {
+		comp_err(dev, "Failed to allocate EQ coefficients");
 		return -ENOMEM;
+	}
 
 	/* Coefficients of the first biquad and second biquad */
 	ret = memcpy_s(eq->coef, sizeof(struct sof_eq_iir_biquad) * SOF_EMP_DEEMP_BIQUADS,
 		       coef, sizeof(struct sof_eq_iir_biquad) * SOF_EMP_DEEMP_BIQUADS);
-	assert(!ret);
+	if (ret) {
+		comp_err(dev, "Memory copy failed");
+		return ret;
+	}
 
 	/* EQ filters are two 2nd order filters, so only need 4 delay slots
 	 * delay[0..1] -> state for first biquad
@@ -146,7 +151,7 @@ static int multiband_drc_init_coef(struct processing_module *mod, int16_t nch, u
 	/* Emphasis: collect the coef array and assign it to every channel */
 	emphasis = config->emp_coef;
 	for (ch = 0; ch < nch; ch++) {
-		ret = multiband_drc_eq_init_coef_ch(emphasis, &state->emphasis[ch]);
+		ret = multiband_drc_eq_init_coef_ch(dev, emphasis, &state->emphasis[ch]);
 		/* Free all previously allocated blocks in case of an error */
 		if (ret < 0) {
 			comp_err(dev, "multiband_drc_init_coef(), could not assign coeffs to ch %d",
@@ -160,7 +165,7 @@ static int multiband_drc_init_coef(struct processing_module *mod, int16_t nch, u
 	/* Deemphasis: collect the coef array and assign it to every channel */
 	deemphasis = config->deemp_coef;
 	for (ch = 0; ch < nch; ch++) {
-		ret = multiband_drc_eq_init_coef_ch(deemphasis, &state->deemphasis[ch]);
+		ret = multiband_drc_eq_init_coef_ch(dev, deemphasis, &state->deemphasis[ch]);
 		/* Free all previously allocated blocks in case of an error */
 		if (ret < 0) {
 			comp_err(dev, "multiband_drc_init_coef(), could not assign coeffs to ch %d",
@@ -205,10 +210,8 @@ static int multiband_drc_setup(struct processing_module *mod, int16_t channels,
 
 	/* Setup Crossover, Emphasis EQ, Deemphasis EQ, and DRC */
 	ret = multiband_drc_init_coef(mod, channels, rate);
-	if (ret < 0)
-		return ret;
-
-	return 0;
+	/* This will return 0 if no error occurred, or the negative error code. */
+	return ret;
 }
 
 /*