diff --git a/drivers/tty/tty_io.c b/drivers/tty/tty_io.c
index 033ac7e6a70d..566728fbaf3c 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/tty_io.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/tty_io.c
@@ -1837,7 +1837,7 @@ static struct tty_struct *tty_open_current_tty(dev_t device, struct file *filp)
 static struct tty_driver *tty_lookup_driver(dev_t device, struct file *filp,
 		int *index)
 {
-	struct tty_driver *driver;
+	struct tty_driver *driver = NULL;
 
 	switch (device) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_VT
@@ -1858,6 +1858,8 @@ static struct tty_driver *tty_lookup_driver(dev_t device, struct file *filp,
 				break;
 			}
 		}
+		if (driver)
+			tty_driver_kref_put(driver);
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
 	}
 	default: