diff --git a/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c b/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
index 0371ad233fdf..8e38a7a5cf2f 100644
--- a/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
+++ b/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
@@ -1436,7 +1436,10 @@ fb_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 __acquires(&info->lock)
 __releases(&info->lock)
 {
-	struct fb_info * const info = file->private_data;
+	struct fb_info * const info = file_fb_info(file);
+
+	if (!info)
+		return -ENODEV;
 
 	lock_fb_info(info);
 	if (info->fbops->fb_release)