diff --git a/drivers/ntb/ntb_transport.c b/drivers/ntb/ntb_transport.c
index 4a02561cfb96..d18cb4476560 100644
--- a/drivers/ntb/ntb_transport.c
+++ b/drivers/ntb/ntb_transport.c
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ int ntb_transport_register_client_dev(char *device_name)
 
 		rc = device_register(dev);
 		if (rc) {
-			kfree(client_dev);
+			put_device(dev);
 			goto err;
 		}