diff --git a/drivers/pcmcia/ds.c b/drivers/pcmcia/ds.c
index 72114907c0e4..341305496b06 100644
--- a/drivers/pcmcia/ds.c
+++ b/drivers/pcmcia/ds.c
@@ -578,8 +578,14 @@ static struct pcmcia_device *pcmcia_device_add(struct pcmcia_socket *s,
 
 	pcmcia_device_query(p_dev);
 
-	if (device_register(&p_dev->dev))
-		goto err_unreg;
+	if (device_register(&p_dev->dev)) {
+		mutex_lock(&s->ops_mutex);
+		list_del(&p_dev->socket_device_list);
+		s->device_count--;
+		mutex_unlock(&s->ops_mutex);
+		put_device(&p_dev->dev);
+		return NULL;
+	}
 
 	return p_dev;