diff --git a/drivers/tty/synclink_gt.c b/drivers/tty/synclink_gt.c
index 25e9befdda3a..72b76cdde534 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/synclink_gt.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/synclink_gt.c
@@ -1433,16 +1433,8 @@ static int hdlcdev_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	int rc;
 	unsigned long flags;
 
-	if (!try_module_get(THIS_MODULE))
-		return -EBUSY;
-
 	DBGINFO(("%s hdlcdev_open\n", dev->name));
 
-	/* generic HDLC layer open processing */
-	rc = hdlc_open(dev);
-	if (rc)
-		return rc;
-
 	/* arbitrate between network and tty opens */
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&info->netlock, flags);
 	if (info->port.count != 0 || info->netcount != 0) {
@@ -1461,6 +1453,16 @@ static int hdlcdev_open(struct net_device *dev)
 		return rc;
 	}
 
+	/* generic HDLC layer open processing */
+	rc = hdlc_open(dev);
+	if (rc) {
+		shutdown(info);
+		spin_lock_irqsave(&info->netlock, flags);
+		info->netcount = 0;
+		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&info->netlock, flags);
+		return rc;
+	}
+
 	/* assert RTS and DTR, apply hardware settings */
 	info->signals |= SerialSignal_RTS | SerialSignal_DTR;
 	program_hw(info);
@@ -1506,7 +1508,6 @@ static int hdlcdev_close(struct net_device *dev)
 	info->netcount=0;
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&info->netlock, flags);
 
-	module_put(THIS_MODULE);
 	return 0;
 }