diff --git a/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/platform/mikrotik/rb_hardconfig.c b/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/platform/mikrotik/rb_hardconfig.c
index 46dc476003c..01cf46b668b 100644
--- a/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/platform/mikrotik/rb_hardconfig.c
+++ b/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/platform/mikrotik/rb_hardconfig.c
@@ -682,10 +682,13 @@ int __init rb_hardconfig_init(struct kobject *rb_kobj)
 
 	hc_buflen = mtd->size;
 	hc_buf = kmalloc(hc_buflen, GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (!hc_buf)
+	if (!hc_buf) {
 		return -ENOMEM;
+		put_mtd_device(mtd);
+	}
 
 	ret = mtd_read(mtd, 0, hc_buflen, &bytes_read, hc_buf);
+	put_mtd_device(mtd);
 
 	if (bytes_read != hc_buflen) {
 		ret = -EIO;