diff --git a/drivers/tee/optee/device.c b/drivers/tee/optee/device.c
index f3947be13e2e..64f0e047c23d 100644
--- a/drivers/tee/optee/device.c
+++ b/drivers/tee/optee/device.c
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ static int optee_register_device(const uuid_t *device_uuid)
 	rc = device_register(&optee_device->dev);
 	if (rc) {
 		pr_err("device registration failed, err: %d\n", rc);
-		kfree(optee_device);
+		put_device(&optee_device->dev);
 	}
 
 	return rc;