diff --git a/reactos/ntoskrnl/io/iomgr/driver.c b/reactos/ntoskrnl/io/iomgr/driver.c
index dea9035e11a..f314a411a6c 100644
--- a/reactos/ntoskrnl/io/iomgr/driver.c
+++ b/reactos/ntoskrnl/io/iomgr/driver.c
@@ -1775,20 +1775,24 @@ IopLoadUnloadDriver(PLOAD_UNLOAD_PARAMS LoadParams)
 
        /* Store its DriverSection, so that it could be unloaded */
        DriverObject->DriverSection = ModuleObject;
+
+       /* Initialize and start device */
+       IopInitializeDevice(DeviceNode, DriverObject);
+       Status = IopStartDevice(DeviceNode);
    }
    else
    {
       DPRINT("DriverObject already exist in ObjectManager\n");
-      /* IopGetDriverObject references the DriverObject, so dereference it. */
+
+      /* IopGetDriverObject references the DriverObject, so dereference it */
       ObDereferenceObject(DriverObject);
+
+      /* Free device node since driver loading failed */
       IopFreeDeviceNode(DeviceNode);
-      LoadParams->Status = STATUS_IMAGE_ALREADY_LOADED;
-      (VOID)KeSetEvent(&LoadParams->Event, 0, FALSE);
-      return;
    }
 
-   IopInitializeDevice(DeviceNode, DriverObject);
-   LoadParams->Status = IopStartDevice(DeviceNode);
+   /* Pass status to the caller and signal the event */
+   LoadParams->Status = Status;
    (VOID)KeSetEvent(&LoadParams->Event, 0, FALSE);
 }