diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index 422a709d271d..a43eedb214bb 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -2302,8 +2302,10 @@ struct regulator_dev *regulator_register(struct regulator_desc *regulator_desc,
 	dev_set_name(&rdev->dev, "regulator.%d",
 		     atomic_inc_return(&regulator_no) - 1);
 	ret = device_register(&rdev->dev);
-	if (ret != 0)
+	if (ret != 0) {
+		put_device(&rdev->dev);
 		goto clean;
+	}
 
 	dev_set_drvdata(&rdev->dev, rdev);