diff --git a/drivers/block/swim3.c b/drivers/block/swim3.c
index ba1190f1276b..87ca8f207c7c 100644
--- a/drivers/block/swim3.c
+++ b/drivers/block/swim3.c
@@ -995,7 +995,11 @@ static void floppy_release(struct gendisk *disk, fmode_t mode)
 	struct swim3 __iomem *sw = fs->swim3;
 
 	mutex_lock(&swim3_mutex);
-	if (fs->ref_count > 0 && --fs->ref_count == 0) {
+	if (fs->ref_count > 0)
+		--fs->ref_count;
+	else if (fs->ref_count == -1)
+		fs->ref_count = 0;
+	if (fs->ref_count == 0) {
 		swim3_action(fs, MOTOR_OFF);
 		out_8(&sw->control_bic, 0xff);
 		swim3_select(fs, RELAX);