diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
index 53c93836c7c6..ca516d68f14f 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
@@ -3265,8 +3265,10 @@ static int nvme_dev_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 	}
 
 	nvme_get_ctrl(ctrl);
-	if (!try_module_get(ctrl->ops->module))
+	if (!try_module_get(ctrl->ops->module)) {
+		nvme_put_ctrl(ctrl);
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	file->private_data = ctrl;
 	return 0;