diff --git a/drivers/memstick/core/memstick.c b/drivers/memstick/core/memstick.c
index c00fe8253c517970bca643dcd68bb63e7f4d2e98..4303b7ef73e2854a6ec9926f27214d9106c6909f 100644
--- a/drivers/memstick/core/memstick.c
+++ b/drivers/memstick/core/memstick.c
@@ -465,6 +465,7 @@ static void memstick_check(struct work_struct *work)
 		if (!host->card) {
 			host->card = card;
 			if (device_register(&card->dev)) {
+				put_device(&card->dev);
 				kfree(host->card);
 				host->card = NULL;
 			}