diff --git a/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c b/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
index 694357f2816b..8494846ccdc5 100644
--- a/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
+++ b/drivers/watchdog/watchdog_dev.c
@@ -1000,7 +1000,7 @@ static int watchdog_cdev_register(struct watchdog_device *wdd)
 				pr_err("%s: a legacy watchdog module is probably present.\n",
 					wdd->info->identity);
 			old_wd_data = NULL;
-			kfree(wd_data);
+			put_device(&wd_data->dev);
 			return err;
 		}
 	}