diff --git a/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-video.c b/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-video.c
index 84424284d486..ec4ed2b0e5fd 100644
--- a/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-video.c
+++ b/drivers/media/usb/em28xx/em28xx-video.c
@@ -3137,6 +3137,7 @@ static int em28xx_v4l2_init(struct em28xx *dev)
 	 * v4l2_device refcount to zero.
 	 */
 	v4l2_device_put(&v4l2->v4l2_dev);
+	dev->v4l2 = NULL;
 	return ret;
 }