diff --git a/drivers/staging/gma500/backlight.c b/drivers/staging/gma500/backlight.c
index 4027e700561a..d3e698b4de61 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/gma500/backlight.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/gma500/backlight.c
@@ -38,9 +38,10 @@ void gma_backlight_exit(struct drm_device *dev)
 {
 #ifdef CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_CLASS_DEVICE
 	struct drm_psb_private *dev_priv = dev->dev_private;
-	dev_priv->backlight_device->props.brightness = 0;
-	backlight_update_status(dev_priv->backlight_device);
-	if (dev_priv->backlight_device)
+	if (dev_priv->backlight_device) {
+		dev_priv->backlight_device->props.brightness = 0;
+		backlight_update_status(dev_priv->backlight_device);
 		backlight_device_unregister(dev_priv->backlight_device);
+	}
 #endif
 }