diff --git a/drivers/staging/comedi/kcomedilib/kcomedilib_main.c b/drivers/staging/comedi/kcomedilib/kcomedilib_main.c
index 973f544e85e1..76bf5619fdd5 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/comedi/kcomedilib/kcomedilib_main.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/comedi/kcomedilib/kcomedilib_main.c
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ struct comedi_device *comedi_open(const char *filename)
 		retval = NULL;
 	up_read(&dev->attach_lock);
 
-	if (retval == NULL)
+	if (!retval)
 		comedi_dev_put(dev);
 
 	return retval;