diff --git a/drivers/pinctrl/core.c b/drivers/pinctrl/core.c
index 446d84fe0e31..f23c55e22195 100644
--- a/drivers/pinctrl/core.c
+++ b/drivers/pinctrl/core.c
@@ -2021,7 +2021,6 @@ static int pinctrl_claim_hogs(struct pinctrl_dev *pctldev)
 		return PTR_ERR(pctldev->p);
 	}
 
-	kref_get(&pctldev->p->users);
 	pctldev->hog_default =
 		pinctrl_lookup_state(pctldev->p, PINCTRL_STATE_DEFAULT);
 	if (IS_ERR(pctldev->hog_default)) {