diff --git a/drivers/scsi/scsi_debug.c b/drivers/scsi/scsi_debug.c
index 19ad8e2aa07a..de3d3b1edaf5 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/scsi_debug.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/scsi_debug.c
@@ -7329,7 +7329,10 @@ static int sdebug_add_host_helper(int per_host_idx)
 		kfree(sdbg_devinfo->zstate);
 		kfree(sdbg_devinfo);
 	}
-	kfree(sdbg_host);
+	if (sdbg_host->dev.release)
+		put_device(&sdbg_host->dev);
+	else
+		kfree(sdbg_host);
 	pr_warn("%s: failed, errno=%d\n", __func__, -error);
 	return error;
 }