diff --git a/drivers/net/eql.c b/drivers/net/eql.c
index 51ead7941f83..5210bb1027cc 100644
--- a/drivers/net/eql.c
+++ b/drivers/net/eql.c
@@ -542,6 +542,8 @@ static int eql_s_slave_cfg(struct net_device *dev, slave_config_t __user *scp)
 	}
 	spin_unlock_bh(&eql->queue.lock);
 
+	dev_put(slave_dev);
+
 	return ret;
 }