diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/css.c b/drivers/s390/cio/css.c
index aea08db045ab..10e8b3b156f0 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/css.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/css.c
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ struct subchannel *css_alloc_subchannel(struct subchannel_id schid,
 	return sch;
 
 err:
-	put_device(&sch->dev);
+	kfree(sch);
 	return ERR_PTR(ret);
 }