diff --git a/drivers/scsi/scsi_transport_iscsi.c b/drivers/scsi/scsi_transport_iscsi.c
index 8e34f3c08575..3af7cbcc5c5d 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/scsi_transport_iscsi.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/scsi_transport_iscsi.c
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(iscsi_destroy_endpoint);
 
 struct iscsi_endpoint *iscsi_lookup_endpoint(u64 handle)
 {
+	struct iscsi_endpoint *ep;
 	struct device *dev;
 
 	dev = class_find_device(&iscsi_endpoint_class, &handle,
@@ -226,7 +227,13 @@ struct iscsi_endpoint *iscsi_lookup_endpoint(u64 handle)
 	if (!dev)
 		return NULL;
 
-	return iscsi_dev_to_endpoint(dev);
+	ep = iscsi_dev_to_endpoint(dev);
+	/*
+	 * we can drop this now because the interface will prevent
+	 * removals and lookups from racing.
+	 */
+	put_device(dev);
+	return ep;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(iscsi_lookup_endpoint);