diff --git a/drivers/md/dm.c b/drivers/md/dm.c
index a5cc4c8462f3..29af584ae838 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm.c
@@ -852,6 +852,9 @@ static struct mapped_device *alloc_dev(unsigned int minor, int persistent)
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	if (!try_module_get(THIS_MODULE))
+		goto bad0;
+
 	/* get a minor number for the dev */
 	r = persistent ? specific_minor(md, minor) : next_free_minor(md, &minor);
 	if (r < 0)
@@ -918,6 +921,8 @@ static struct mapped_device *alloc_dev(unsigned int minor, int persistent)
 	blk_cleanup_queue(md->queue);
 	free_minor(minor);
  bad1:
+	module_put(THIS_MODULE);
+ bad0:
 	kfree(md);
 	return NULL;
 }
@@ -941,6 +946,7 @@ static void free_dev(struct mapped_device *md)
 
 	put_disk(md->disk);
 	blk_cleanup_queue(md->queue);
+	module_put(THIS_MODULE);
 	kfree(md);
 }