diff --git a/drivers/staging/comedi/comedi_fops.c b/drivers/staging/comedi/comedi_fops.c
index aeb2c00875cd..14091313cebb 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/comedi/comedi_fops.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/comedi/comedi_fops.c
@@ -1845,8 +1845,15 @@ ok:
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (dev->attached && dev->use_count == 0 && dev->open)
-		dev->open(dev);
+	if (dev->attached && dev->use_count == 0 && dev->open) {
+		int rc = dev->open(dev);
+		if (rc < 0) {
+			module_put(dev->driver->module);
+			module_put(THIS_MODULE);
+			mutex_unlock(&dev->mutex);
+			return rc;
+		}
+	}
 
 	dev->use_count++;
 
diff --git a/drivers/staging/comedi/comedidev.h b/drivers/staging/comedi/comedidev.h
index 4eb2b77f56dc..41ef9207f99c 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/comedi/comedidev.h
+++ b/drivers/staging/comedi/comedidev.h
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ struct comedi_device {
 
 	struct fasync_struct *async_queue;
 
-	void (*open) (struct comedi_device *dev);
+	int (*open) (struct comedi_device *dev);
 	void (*close) (struct comedi_device *dev);
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/dt9812.c b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/dt9812.c
index 96caae36279c..d01d2dc79112 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/dt9812.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/dt9812.c
@@ -890,8 +890,10 @@ static struct usb_driver dt9812_usb_driver = {
  * Comedi functions
  */
 
-static void dt9812_comedi_open(struct comedi_device *dev)
+static int dt9812_comedi_open(struct comedi_device *dev)
 {
+	int result = -ENODEV;
+
 	down(&devpriv->slot->mutex);
 	if (devpriv->slot->usb) {
 		/* We have an attached device, fill in current range info */
@@ -934,8 +936,10 @@ static void dt9812_comedi_open(struct comedi_device *dev)
 			}
 			break;
 		}
+		result = 0;
 	}
 	up(&devpriv->slot->mutex);
+	return result;
 }
 
 static int dt9812_di_rinsn(struct comedi_device *dev,
diff --git a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/jr3_pci.c b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/jr3_pci.c
index d330b1886846..4683a0b90f22 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/jr3_pci.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/jr3_pci.c
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ static int jr3_pci_ai_insn_read(struct comedi_device *dev,
 	return result;
 }
 
-static void jr3_pci_open(struct comedi_device *dev)
+static int jr3_pci_open(struct comedi_device *dev)
 {
 	int i;
 	struct jr3_pci_dev_private *devpriv = dev->private;
@@ -388,6 +388,7 @@ static void jr3_pci_open(struct comedi_device *dev)
 			       p->channel_no);
 		}
 	}
+	return 0;
 }
 
 int read_idm_word(const u8 * data, size_t size, int *pos, unsigned int *val)
diff --git a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/serial2002.c b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/serial2002.c
index 0792617ebc35..a4a99b870369 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/serial2002.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/comedi/drivers/serial2002.c
@@ -393,15 +393,16 @@ static void serial_write(struct file *f, struct serial_data data)
 	}
 }
 
-static void serial_2002_open(struct comedi_device *dev)
+static int serial_2002_open(struct comedi_device *dev)
 {
+	int result;
 	char port[20];
 
 	sprintf(port, "/dev/ttyS%d", devpriv->port);
 	devpriv->tty = filp_open(port, O_RDWR, 0);
 	if (IS_ERR(devpriv->tty)) {
-		printk("serial_2002: file open error = %ld\n",
-		       PTR_ERR(devpriv->tty));
+		result = (int)PTR_ERR(devpriv->tty);
+		printk("serial_2002: file open error = %d\n", result);
 	} else {
 		struct config_t {
 
@@ -673,7 +674,9 @@ static void serial_2002_open(struct comedi_device *dev)
 				}
 			}
 		}
+		result = 0;
 	}
+	return result;
 }
 
 static void serial_2002_close(struct comedi_device *dev)