diff --git a/drivers/base/bus.c b/drivers/base/bus.c
index d414331b480e..558d562f4901 100644
--- a/drivers/base/bus.c
+++ b/drivers/base/bus.c
@@ -242,13 +242,15 @@ static ssize_t store_drivers_probe(struct bus_type *bus,
 				   const char *buf, size_t count)
 {
 	struct device *dev;
+	int err = -EINVAL;
 
 	dev = bus_find_device_by_name(bus, NULL, buf);
 	if (!dev)
 		return -ENODEV;
-	if (bus_rescan_devices_helper(dev, NULL) != 0)
-		return -EINVAL;
-	return count;
+	if (bus_rescan_devices_helper(dev, NULL) == 0)
+		err = count;
+	put_device(dev);
+	return err;
 }
 
 static struct device *next_device(struct klist_iter *i)