diff --git a/drivers/counter/counter-core.c b/drivers/counter/counter-core.c
index 50bd30ba3d03..0b1dac61b7b5 100644
--- a/drivers/counter/counter-core.c
+++ b/drivers/counter/counter-core.c
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ struct counter_device *counter_alloc(size_t sizeof_priv)
 
 err_dev_set_name:
 
-	counter_chrdev_remove(counter);
+	put_device(dev);
+	return NULL;
 err_chrdev_add:
 
 	ida_free(&counter_ida, dev->id);