diff --git a/drivers/powercap/powercap_sys.c b/drivers/powercap/powercap_sys.c
index 52c32dcbf7d8..4112a0097338 100644
--- a/drivers/powercap/powercap_sys.c
+++ b/drivers/powercap/powercap_sys.c
@@ -627,8 +627,7 @@ struct powercap_control_type *powercap_register_control_type(
 	dev_set_name(&control_type->dev, "%s", name);
 	result = device_register(&control_type->dev);
 	if (result) {
-		if (control_type->allocated)
-			kfree(control_type);
+		put_device(&control_type->dev);
 		return ERR_PTR(result);
 	}
 	idr_init(&control_type->idr);