diff --git a/lib/vsprintf.c b/lib/vsprintf.c
index 3e3733a7084f..552738f14275 100644
--- a/lib/vsprintf.c
+++ b/lib/vsprintf.c
@@ -2111,15 +2111,20 @@ char *fwnode_full_name_string(struct fwnode_handle *fwnode, char *buf,
 
 	/* Loop starting from the root node to the current node. */
 	for (depth = fwnode_count_parents(fwnode); depth >= 0; depth--) {
-		struct fwnode_handle *__fwnode =
-			fwnode_get_nth_parent(fwnode, depth);
+		/*
+		 * Only get a reference for other nodes (i.e. parent nodes).
+		 * fwnode refcount may be 0 here.
+		 */
+		struct fwnode_handle *__fwnode = depth ?
+			fwnode_get_nth_parent(fwnode, depth) : fwnode;
 
 		buf = string(buf, end, fwnode_get_name_prefix(__fwnode),
 			     default_str_spec);
 		buf = string(buf, end, fwnode_get_name(__fwnode),
 			     default_str_spec);
 
-		fwnode_handle_put(__fwnode);
+		if (depth)
+			fwnode_handle_put(__fwnode);
 	}
 
 	return buf;