diff --git a/drivers/soc/atmel/soc.c b/drivers/soc/atmel/soc.c
index dae8a2e0f745..78cb2c4bd392 100644
--- a/drivers/soc/atmel/soc.c
+++ b/drivers/soc/atmel/soc.c
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ static const struct of_device_id at91_soc_allowed_list[] __initconst = {
 
 static int __init atmel_soc_device_init(void)
 {
-	struct device_node *np = of_find_node_by_path("/");
+	struct device_node *np __free(device_node) = of_find_node_by_path("/");
 
 	if (!of_match_node(at91_soc_allowed_list, np))
 		return 0;