diff --git a/drivers/firmware/dmi-sysfs.c b/drivers/firmware/dmi-sysfs.c
index ef76e5eecf0b..37f76daa2b3d 100644
--- a/drivers/firmware/dmi-sysfs.c
+++ b/drivers/firmware/dmi-sysfs.c
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ static void __init dmi_sysfs_register_handle(const struct dmi_header *dh,
 				    "%d-%d", dh->type, entry->instance);
 
 	if (*ret) {
-		kfree(entry);
+		kobject_put(&entry->kobj);
 		return;
 	}