diff --git a/drivers/thermal/thermal_of.c b/drivers/thermal/thermal_of.c
index 1a51a4d240ff..b6d0c92f5522 100644
--- a/drivers/thermal/thermal_of.c
+++ b/drivers/thermal/thermal_of.c
@@ -280,10 +280,10 @@ static bool thermal_of_cm_lookup(struct device_node *cm_np,
 				 struct cooling_spec *c)
 {
 	for_each_child_of_node_scoped(cm_np, child) {
-		struct device_node *tr_np;
 		int count, i;
 
-		tr_np = of_parse_phandle(child, "trip", 0);
+		struct device_node *tr_np __free(device_node) =
+			of_parse_phandle(child, "trip", 0);
 		if (tr_np != trip->priv)
 			continue;