diff --git a/drivers/media/pci/tw686x/tw686x-video.c b/drivers/media/pci/tw686x/tw686x-video.c
index 6344a479119f..3ebf7a2c95f0 100644
--- a/drivers/media/pci/tw686x/tw686x-video.c
+++ b/drivers/media/pci/tw686x/tw686x-video.c
@@ -1280,8 +1280,10 @@ int tw686x_video_init(struct tw686x_dev *dev)
 		video_set_drvdata(vdev, vc);
 
 		err = video_register_device(vdev, VFL_TYPE_VIDEO, -1);
-		if (err < 0)
+		if (err < 0) {
+			video_device_release(vdev);
 			goto error;
+		}
 		vc->num = vdev->num;
 	}