diff --git a/drivers/siox/siox-core.c b/drivers/siox/siox-core.c
index 7c4f32d76966..561408583b2b 100644
--- a/drivers/siox/siox-core.c
+++ b/drivers/siox/siox-core.c
@@ -839,6 +839,8 @@ static struct siox_device *siox_device_add(struct siox_master *smaster,
 
 err_device_register:
 	/* don't care to make the buffer smaller again */
+	put_device(&sdevice->dev);
+	sdevice = NULL;
 
 err_buf_alloc:
 	siox_master_unlock(smaster);