diff --git a/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-input.c b/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-input.c
index 3612f0d730dd..92007a225d8e 100644
--- a/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-input.c
+++ b/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-input.c
@@ -865,7 +865,6 @@ error:
 	kfree(ir);
 ref_put:
 	em28xx_shutdown_buttons(dev);
-	kref_put(&dev->ref, em28xx_free_device);
 	return err;
 }