diff --git a/drivers/pcmcia/cardbus.c b/drivers/pcmcia/cardbus.c
index 714baaeb6da1..fb2f38dc92c5 100644
--- a/drivers/pcmcia/cardbus.c
+++ b/drivers/pcmcia/cardbus.c
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ static void cardbus_assign_irqs(struct pci_bus *bus, int irq)
 	}
 }
 
-int cb_alloc(struct pcmcia_socket * s)
+int __ref cb_alloc(struct pcmcia_socket * s)
 {
 	struct pci_bus *bus = s->cb_dev->subordinate;
 	struct pci_dev *dev;