diff --git a/drivers/staging/hv/netvsc.c b/drivers/staging/hv/netvsc.c
index b6e1fb988d23..75c6ed7b790a 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/hv/netvsc.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/hv/netvsc.c
@@ -49,14 +49,6 @@ static struct netvsc_device *alloc_net_device(struct hv_device *device)
 	return net_device;
 }
 
-static void free_net_device(struct netvsc_device *device)
-{
-	WARN_ON(atomic_read(&device->refcnt) != 0);
-	device->dev->ext = NULL;
-	kfree(device);
-}
-
-
 /* Get the net device object iff exists and its refcount > 1 */
 static struct netvsc_device *get_outbound_net_device(struct hv_device *device)
 {
@@ -438,7 +430,7 @@ int netvsc_device_remove(struct hv_device *device)
 		kfree(netvsc_packet);
 	}
 
-	free_net_device(net_device);
+	kfree(net_device);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -980,7 +972,7 @@ int netvsc_device_add(struct hv_device *device, void *additional_info)
 		release_outbound_net_device(device);
 		release_inbound_net_device(device);
 
-		free_net_device(net_device);
+		kfree(net_device);
 	}
 
 	return ret;