diff --git a/samples/vfio-mdev/mdpy.c b/samples/vfio-mdev/mdpy.c
index 721fb06c6..e8400fd 100644
--- a/samples/vfio-mdev/mdpy.c
+++ b/samples/vfio-mdev/mdpy.c
@@ -717,7 +717,7 @@ static int __init mdpy_dev_init(void)
 
 	ret = device_register(&mdpy_dev);
 	if (ret)
-		goto err_class;
+		goto err_put;
 
 	ret = mdev_register_parent(&mdpy_parent, &mdpy_dev, &mdpy_driver,
 				   mdpy_mdev_types,
@@ -728,8 +728,9 @@ static int __init mdpy_dev_init(void)
 	return 0;
 
 err_device:
-	device_unregister(&mdpy_dev);
-err_class:
+	device_del(&mdpy_dev);
+err_put:
+	put_device(&mdpy_dev);
 	class_destroy(mdpy_class);
 err_driver:
 	mdev_unregister_driver(&mdpy_driver);