diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index cb62be63caed..2f14c16f58c3 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -2080,6 +2080,10 @@ out:
 
 scrub:
 	device_unregister(&rdev->dev);
+	/* device core frees rdev */
+	rdev = ERR_PTR(ret);
+	goto out;
+
 clean:
 	kfree(rdev);
 	rdev = ERR_PTR(ret);