diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/passthru.c b/drivers/nvme/target/passthru.c
index 8bd7f656e240..dacfa7435d0b 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/passthru.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/passthru.c
@@ -517,6 +517,7 @@ int nvmet_passthru_ctrl_enable(struct nvmet_subsys *subsys)
 		subsys->ver = NVME_VS(1, 2, 1);
 	}
 
+	__module_get(subsys->passthru_ctrl->ops->module);
 	mutex_unlock(&subsys->lock);
 	return 0;
 
@@ -531,6 +532,7 @@ static void __nvmet_passthru_ctrl_disable(struct nvmet_subsys *subsys)
 {
 	if (subsys->passthru_ctrl) {
 		xa_erase(&passthru_subsystems, subsys->passthru_ctrl->cntlid);
+		module_put(subsys->passthru_ctrl->ops->module);
 		nvme_put_ctrl(subsys->passthru_ctrl);
 	}
 	subsys->passthru_ctrl = NULL;