diff --git a/net/8021q/vlan.c b/net/8021q/vlan.c
index 1583c5ef963f06013a455634b5b8604916c1289c..2a546919d6fbd72e10ea6c01dc908e84eb012aa4 100644
--- a/net/8021q/vlan.c
+++ b/net/8021q/vlan.c
@@ -562,8 +562,6 @@ static int register_vlan_device(struct net_device *real_dev,
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out_free_newdev;
 
-	/* Account for reference in struct vlan_dev_info */
-	dev_hold(real_dev);
 #ifdef VLAN_DEBUG
 	printk(VLAN_DBG "Allocated new device successfully, returning.\n");
 #endif