diff --git a/drivers/firmware/dmi-sysfs.c b/drivers/firmware/dmi-sysfs.c
index d5de6ee8466d..084948a31d2d 100644
--- a/drivers/firmware/dmi-sysfs.c
+++ b/drivers/firmware/dmi-sysfs.c
@@ -602,7 +602,7 @@ static void __init dmi_sysfs_register_handle(const struct dmi_header *dh,
 				    "%d-%d", dh->type, entry->instance);
 
 	if (*ret) {
-		kfree(entry);
+		kobject_put(&entry->kobj);
 		return;
 	}