diff --git a/drivers/media/test-drivers/vicodec/vicodec-core.c b/drivers/media/test-drivers/vicodec/vicodec-core.c
index 8941d73f6611..71928e30dae8 100644
--- a/drivers/media/test-drivers/vicodec/vicodec-core.c
+++ b/drivers/media/test-drivers/vicodec/vicodec-core.c
@@ -1994,6 +1994,7 @@ static int vicodec_request_validate(struct media_request *req)
 	}
 	ctrl = v4l2_ctrl_request_hdl_ctrl_find(hdl,
 					       vicodec_ctrl_stateless_state.id);
+	v4l2_ctrl_request_hdl_put(hdl);
 	if (!ctrl) {
 		v4l2_info(&ctx->dev->v4l2_dev,
 			  "Missing required codec control\n");