diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/css.c b/drivers/s390/cio/css.c
index be78a57f9bfd..8a70596a5544 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/css.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/css.c
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ struct subchannel *css_alloc_subchannel(struct subchannel_id schid,
 	return sch;
 
 err:
-	kfree(sch);
+	put_device(&sch->dev);
 	return ERR_PTR(ret);
 }