diff --git a/drivers/virtio/virtio_mmio.c b/drivers/virtio/virtio_mmio.c
index 56128b9c46eb..1dd396d4bebb 100644
--- a/drivers/virtio/virtio_mmio.c
+++ b/drivers/virtio/virtio_mmio.c
@@ -688,6 +688,7 @@ static int vm_cmdline_set(const char *device,
 	if (!vm_cmdline_parent_registered) {
 		err = device_register(&vm_cmdline_parent);
 		if (err) {
+			put_device(&vm_cmdline_parent);
 			pr_err("Failed to register parent device!\n");
 			return err;
 		}