diff --git a/net/nfc/netlink.c b/net/nfc/netlink.c
index 573b38ad2f8ed9..e161ef2d4720d5 100644
--- a/net/nfc/netlink.c
+++ b/net/nfc/netlink.c
@@ -852,6 +852,7 @@ static int nfc_genl_stop_poll(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 
 	if (!dev->polling) {
 		device_unlock(&dev->dev);
+		nfc_put_device(dev);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}