diff --git a/net/dsa/slave.c b/net/dsa/slave.c
index 91e3b2ff364a..ab24521beb4d 100644
--- a/net/dsa/slave.c
+++ b/net/dsa/slave.c
@@ -1204,6 +1204,7 @@ int dsa_slave_create(struct dsa_switch *ds, struct device *parent,
 	ret = dsa_slave_phy_setup(p, slave_dev);
 	if (ret) {
 		netdev_err(master, "error %d setting up slave phy\n", ret);
+		unregister_netdev(slave_dev);
 		free_netdev(slave_dev);
 		return ret;
 	}