diff --git a/kernel/workqueue.c b/kernel/workqueue.c
index bb9a519cbf50..ccd1080dd6e7 100644
--- a/kernel/workqueue.c
+++ b/kernel/workqueue.c
@@ -5337,7 +5337,7 @@ int workqueue_sysfs_register(struct workqueue_struct *wq)
 
 	ret = device_register(&wq_dev->dev);
 	if (ret) {
-		kfree(wq_dev);
+		put_device(&wq_dev->dev);
 		wq->wq_dev = NULL;
 		return ret;
 	}