diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtl8xxxu/core.c b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtl8xxxu/core.c
index d1b1474cba67..cb6c8859a918 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtl8xxxu/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/realtek/rtl8xxxu/core.c
@@ -7686,7 +7686,7 @@ static int rtl8xxxu_probe(struct usb_interface *interface,
 	int ret;
 	int untested = 1;
 
-	udev = usb_get_dev(interface_to_usbdev(interface));
+	udev = interface_to_usbdev(interface);
 
 	switch (id->idVendor) {
 	case USB_VENDOR_ID_REALTEK:
@@ -7745,10 +7745,8 @@ static int rtl8xxxu_probe(struct usb_interface *interface,
 	}
 
 	hw = ieee80211_alloc_hw(sizeof(struct rtl8xxxu_priv), &rtl8xxxu_ops);
-	if (!hw) {
-		ret = -ENOMEM;
-		goto err_put_dev;
-	}
+	if (!hw)
+		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	priv = hw->priv;
 	priv->hw = hw;
@@ -7890,8 +7888,6 @@ static int rtl8xxxu_probe(struct usb_interface *interface,
 	mutex_destroy(&priv->h2c_mutex);
 
 	ieee80211_free_hw(hw);
-err_put_dev:
-	usb_put_dev(udev);
 
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -7924,7 +7920,6 @@ static void rtl8xxxu_disconnect(struct usb_interface *interface)
 			 "Device still attached, trying to reset\n");
 		usb_reset_device(priv->udev);
 	}
-	usb_put_dev(priv->udev);
 	ieee80211_free_hw(hw);
 }