diff --git a/drivers/hv/vmbus_drv.c b/drivers/hv/vmbus_drv.c
index 514279dac7cb..e99400f3ae1d 100644
--- a/drivers/hv/vmbus_drv.c
+++ b/drivers/hv/vmbus_drv.c
@@ -2020,6 +2020,7 @@ int vmbus_device_register(struct hv_device *child_device_obj)
 	ret = device_register(&child_device_obj->device);
 	if (ret) {
 		pr_err("Unable to register child device\n");
+		put_device(&child_device_obj->device);
 		return ret;
 	}