diff --git a/drivers/net/netconsole.c b/drivers/net/netconsole.c
index f0ad56c13933..b3321129a83c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/netconsole.c
+++ b/drivers/net/netconsole.c
@@ -643,7 +643,6 @@ static int netconsole_netdev_event(struct notifier_block *this,
 					__netpoll_cleanup(&nt->np);
 					dev_put(nt->np.dev);
 					nt->np.dev = NULL;
-					netconsole_target_put(nt);
 				}
 				nt->enabled = 0;
 				stopped = true;