diff --git a/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c b/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c
index d72156517726a6dbcecde87796a5cd15bebd1bf4..a5c9ed128b974aaac3e4cba8ac03e4a2292d77d4 100644
--- a/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c
+++ b/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ static void v4l2_device_release(struct device *cd)
 	 * TODO: In the long run all drivers that use v4l2_device should use the
 	 * v4l2_device release callback. This check will then be unnecessary.
 	 */
-	if (v4l2_dev->release == NULL)
+	if (v4l2_dev && v4l2_dev->release == NULL)
 		v4l2_dev = NULL;
 
 	/* Release video_device and perform other