diff --git a/drivers/net/can/at91_can.c b/drivers/net/can/at91_can.c
index 3b66c6736832..2c17e7437c47 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/at91_can.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/at91_can.c
@@ -1101,7 +1101,7 @@ static int __init at91_can_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	return 0;
 
  exit_free:
-	free_netdev(dev);
+	free_candev(dev);
  exit_iounmap:
 	iounmap(addr);
  exit_release:
@@ -1122,8 +1122,6 @@ static int __devexit at91_can_remove(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	platform_set_drvdata(pdev, NULL);
 
-	free_netdev(dev);
-
 	iounmap(priv->reg_base);
 
 	res = platform_get_resource(pdev, IORESOURCE_MEM, 0);
@@ -1131,6 +1129,8 @@ static int __devexit at91_can_remove(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	clk_put(priv->clk);
 
+	free_candev(dev);
+
 	return 0;
 }