diff --git a/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-sysfs.c b/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-sysfs.c
index f62aa115d79a..4667830f350e 100644
--- a/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-sysfs.c
+++ b/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-sysfs.c
@@ -648,6 +648,7 @@ int gpiod_export_link(struct device *dev, const char *name,
 		if (tdev != NULL) {
 			status = sysfs_create_link(&dev->kobj, &tdev->kobj,
 						name);
+			put_device(tdev);
 		} else {
 			status = -ENODEV;
 		}