diff --git a/drivers/media/rc/lirc_dev.c b/drivers/media/rc/lirc_dev.c
index d73f02b0db84..54f4a7cd88f4 100644
--- a/drivers/media/rc/lirc_dev.c
+++ b/drivers/media/rc/lirc_dev.c
@@ -841,8 +841,10 @@ struct rc_dev *rc_dev_get_from_fd(int fd, bool write)
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 	}
 
-	if (write && !(f.file->f_mode & FMODE_WRITE))
+	if (write && !(f.file->f_mode & FMODE_WRITE)) {
+		fdput(f);
 		return ERR_PTR(-EPERM);
+	}
 
 	fh = f.file->private_data;
 	dev = fh->rc;