diff --git a/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-input.c b/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-input.c
index 59529cbf9cd0..0b6d77c3bec8 100644
--- a/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-input.c
+++ b/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-input.c
@@ -842,7 +842,6 @@ static int em28xx_ir_init(struct em28xx *dev)
 	kfree(ir);
 ref_put:
 	em28xx_shutdown_buttons(dev);
-	kref_put(&dev->ref, em28xx_free_device);
 	return err;
 }