diff --git a/drivers/pci/pci.c b/drivers/pci/pci.c
index cd759e19cc18..a0f961a380fa 100644
--- a/drivers/pci/pci.c
+++ b/drivers/pci/pci.c
@@ -5123,7 +5123,7 @@ static int pci_bus_max_d3cold_delay(const struct pci_bus *bus)
  */
 int pci_bridge_wait_for_secondary_bus(struct pci_dev *dev, char *reset_type)
 {
-	struct pci_dev *child;
+	struct pci_dev *child __free(pci_dev_put) = NULL;
 	int delay;
 
 	if (pci_dev_is_disconnected(dev))
@@ -5152,8 +5152,8 @@ int pci_bridge_wait_for_secondary_bus(struct pci_dev *dev, char *reset_type)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	child = list_first_entry(&dev->subordinate->devices, struct pci_dev,
-				 bus_list);
+	child = pci_dev_get(list_first_entry(&dev->subordinate->devices,
+					     struct pci_dev, bus_list));
 	up_read(&pci_bus_sem);
 
 	/*