diff --git a/drivers/net/caif/caif_serial.c b/drivers/net/caif/caif_serial.c
index 0f2bee59a82b..0bc7f6518fb3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/caif/caif_serial.c
+++ b/drivers/net/caif/caif_serial.c
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ static int ldisc_open(struct tty_struct *tty)
 	rtnl_lock();
 	result = register_netdevice(dev);
 	if (result) {
+		tty_kref_put(tty);
 		rtnl_unlock();
 		free_netdev(dev);
 		return -ENODEV;