diff --git a/net/ax25/af_ax25.c b/net/ax25/af_ax25.c
index 997866ed9cd0..3c923259a56f 100644
--- a/net/ax25/af_ax25.c
+++ b/net/ax25/af_ax25.c
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ again:
 			spin_unlock_bh(&ax25_list_lock);
 			lock_sock(sk);
 			s->ax25_dev = NULL;
+			dev_put(ax25_dev->dev);
 			ax25_dev_put(ax25_dev);
 			release_sock(sk);
 			ax25_disconnect(s, ENETUNREACH);
@@ -1122,8 +1123,10 @@ static int ax25_bind(struct socket *sock, struct sockaddr *uaddr, int addr_len)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (ax25_dev != NULL)
+	if (ax25_dev) {
 		ax25_fillin_cb(ax25, ax25_dev);
+		dev_hold(ax25_dev->dev);
+	}
 
 done:
 	ax25_cb_add(ax25);