diff --git a/drivers/atm/atmtcp.c b/drivers/atm/atmtcp.c
index d9fd70280482..7f814da3c2d0 100644
--- a/drivers/atm/atmtcp.c
+++ b/drivers/atm/atmtcp.c
@@ -433,9 +433,15 @@ static int atmtcp_remove_persistent(int itf)
 		return -EMEDIUMTYPE;
 	}
 	dev_data = PRIV(dev);
-	if (!dev_data->persist) return 0;
+	if (!dev_data->persist) {
+		atm_dev_put(dev);
+		return 0;
+	}
 	dev_data->persist = 0;
-	if (PRIV(dev)->vcc) return 0;
+	if (PRIV(dev)->vcc) {
+		atm_dev_put(dev);
+		return 0;
+	}
 	kfree(dev_data);
 	atm_dev_put(dev);
 	atm_dev_deregister(dev);