c
// ... In __spi_sync ...
int __spi_sync(struct spi_device *spi, struct spi_message *message) {
    // ... Other code ...
    int ret = some_spi_operation(spi, message); // The actual transfer

    if (ret != 0) {
        // Handle the error
    }
    return ret;
}

// Simplified spi_sync (lock is now managed within __spi_sync)
int spi_sync(struct spi_device *spi, struct spi_message *message)
{
    return __spi_sync(spi, message);
}

