diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hns/hnae.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hns/hnae.c
index 66e7a5fd4249..87ce15a12135 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hns/hnae.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hns/hnae.c
@@ -418,8 +418,10 @@ int hnae_ae_register(struct hnae_ae_dev *hdev, struct module *owner)
 	hdev->cls_dev.release = hnae_release;
 	(void)dev_set_name(&hdev->cls_dev, "hnae%d", hdev->id);
 	ret = device_register(&hdev->cls_dev);
-	if (ret)
+	if (ret) {
+		put_device(&hdev->cls_dev);
 		return ret;
+	}
 
 	__module_get(THIS_MODULE);