diff --git a/drivers/net/can/dev.c b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
index c5fe3a3db8c91..e86f4c37f981c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/dev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
@@ -576,8 +576,7 @@ void close_candev(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	struct can_priv *priv = netdev_priv(dev);
 
-	if (del_timer_sync(&priv->restart_timer))
-		dev_put(dev);
+	del_timer_sync(&priv->restart_timer);
 	can_flush_echo_skb(dev);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(close_candev);