diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/backlight.c b/drivers/video/backlight/backlight.c
index 5d05555fe841d2a4eaac7d230e498e0c51f5d841..20b276e1f894465a140165c2f90a44f479e37597 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/backlight.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/backlight.c
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ struct backlight_device *backlight_device_register(const char *name,
 
 	rc = device_register(&new_bd->dev);
 	if (rc) {
-		kfree(new_bd);
+		put_device(&new_bd->dev);
 		return ERR_PTR(rc);
 	}