diff --git a/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c b/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c
index 6fb192a94762..83bb086bf975 100644
--- a/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c
+++ b/sound/pci/ac97/ac97_codec.c
@@ -1945,6 +1945,7 @@ static int snd_ac97_dev_register(struct snd_device *device)
 		     snd_ac97_get_short_name(ac97));
 	if ((err = device_register(&ac97->dev)) < 0) {
 		ac97_err(ac97, "Can't register ac97 bus\n");
+		put_device(&ac97->dev);
 		ac97->dev.bus = NULL;
 		return err;
 	}