diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/renesas/rz-du/rzg2l_du_encoder.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/renesas/rz-du/rzg2l_du_encoder.c
index 5e6dd16705e6..d53068733c66 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/renesas/rz-du/rzg2l_du_encoder.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/renesas/rz-du/rzg2l_du_encoder.c
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ int rzg2l_du_encoder_init(struct rzg2l_du_device  *rcdu,
 {
 	struct rzg2l_du_encoder *renc;
 	struct drm_connector *connector;
-	struct drm_bridge *bridge;
+	struct drm_bridge *bridge __free(drm_bridge_put) = NULL;
 	int ret;
 
 	/*
@@ -84,9 +84,16 @@ int rzg2l_du_encoder_init(struct rzg2l_du_device  *rcdu,
 		bridge = devm_drm_panel_bridge_add_typed(rcdu->dev, panel,
 							 DRM_MODE_CONNECTOR_DPI);
 		if (IS_ERR(bridge))
-			return PTR_ERR(bridge);
+			return PTR_ERR(no_free_ptr(bridge));
+
+		/*
+		 * The reference taken by devm_drm_panel_bridge_add_typed() is
+		 * released automatically. Take a second one for the __free()
+		 * when this function will return.
+		 */
+		drm_bridge_get(bridge);
 	} else {
-		bridge = of_drm_find_bridge(enc_node);
+		bridge = of_drm_find_and_get_bridge(enc_node);
 		if (!bridge)
 			return -EPROBE_DEFER;
 	}