diff --git a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
index e977ba931878e77cb149fd5a66c5618f723500a3..1a4bf8acad78cb2a901b02520d4802f11e2ad80c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
+++ b/drivers/net/phy/phy_device.c
@@ -723,6 +723,7 @@ struct phy_device *phy_connect(struct net_device *dev, const char *bus_id,
 	phydev = to_phy_device(d);
 
 	rc = phy_connect_direct(dev, phydev, handler, interface);
+	put_device(d);
 	if (rc)
 		return ERR_PTR(rc);
 
@@ -953,6 +954,7 @@ struct phy_device *phy_attach(struct net_device *dev, const char *bus_id,
 	phydev = to_phy_device(d);
 
 	rc = phy_attach_direct(dev, phydev, phydev->dev_flags, interface);
+	put_device(d);
 	if (rc)
 		return ERR_PTR(rc);