diff --git a/include/linux/tty.h b/include/linux/tty.h
index 90b4fdc8a61f14fcd8753bc5d7d55d89924e9302..4781d7b27dd39d9930164592d008aa1ac22772c3 100644
--- a/include/linux/tty.h
+++ b/include/linux/tty.h
@@ -518,9 +518,9 @@ extern void tty_port_put(struct tty_port *port);
 
 static inline struct tty_port *tty_port_get(struct tty_port *port)
 {
-	if (port)
-		kref_get(&port->kref);
-	return port;
+	if (port && kref_get_unless_zero(&port->kref))
+		return port;
+	return NULL;
 }
 
 /* If the cts flow control is enabled, return true. */