diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c b/drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c
index 5ef9bbbab3dbb..b8a38f32d27f0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/mdio_bus.c
@@ -354,6 +354,7 @@ int __mdiobus_register(struct mii_bus *bus, struct module *owner)
 	err = device_register(&bus->dev);
 	if (err) {
 		pr_err("mii_bus %s failed to register\n", bus->id);
+		put_device(&bus->dev);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}