diff --git a/drivers/tty/tty_io.c b/drivers/tty/tty_io.c
index 4ca4bcd28ff7..6913da8f202c 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/tty_io.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/tty_io.c
@@ -1873,6 +1873,7 @@ static int tty_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 		if (IS_ERR(tty)) {
 			tty_unlock();
 			mutex_unlock(&tty_mutex);
+			tty_driver_kref_put(driver);
 			return PTR_ERR(tty);
 		}
 	}