diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index 204d87e7c9b1..5b7d9c2b821d 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -9114,6 +9114,13 @@ int register_netdevice(struct net_device *dev)
 		rcu_barrier();
 
 		dev->reg_state = NETREG_UNREGISTERED;
+		/* We should put the kobject that hold in
+		 * netdev_unregister_kobject(), otherwise
+		 * the net device cannot be freed when
+		 * driver calls free_netdev(), because the
+		 * kobject is being hold.
+		 */
+		kobject_put(&dev->dev.kobj);
 	}
 	/*
 	 *	Prevent userspace races by waiting until the network