diff --git a/drivers/mtd/ubi/kapi.c b/drivers/mtd/ubi/kapi.c
index 88b1897aeb40..7826f7c4ec2f 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/ubi/kapi.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/ubi/kapi.c
@@ -227,9 +227,9 @@ out_unlock:
 out_free:
 	kfree(desc);
 out_put_ubi:
-	ubi_put_device(ubi);
 	ubi_err(ubi, "cannot open device %d, volume %d, error %d",
 		ubi_num, vol_id, err);
+	ubi_put_device(ubi);
 	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(ubi_open_volume);