diff --git a/net/smc/smc_pnet.c b/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
index 78f7af28ae4f..31f8453c25c5 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
@@ -181,8 +181,10 @@ static int smc_pnet_enter(struct smc_pnetentry *new_pnetelem)
 			     sizeof(new_pnetelem->ndev->name)) ||
 		    smc_pnet_same_ibname(pnetelem,
 					 new_pnetelem->smcibdev->ibdev->name,
-					 new_pnetelem->ib_port))
+					 new_pnetelem->ib_port)) {
+			dev_put(pnetelem->ndev);
 			goto found;
+		}
 	}
 	list_add_tail(&new_pnetelem->list, &smc_pnettable.pnetlist);
 	rc = 0;