diff --git a/drivers/atm/idt77252.c b/drivers/atm/idt77252.c
index 272f009..1bdf104 100644
--- a/drivers/atm/idt77252.c
+++ b/drivers/atm/idt77252.c
@@ -3511,7 +3511,7 @@
 	tmp = dev_get_by_name(&init_net, tname);	/* jhs: was "tmp = dev_get(tname);" */
 	if (tmp) {
 		memcpy(card->atmdev->esi, tmp->dev_addr, 6);
-
+		dev_put(tmp);
 		printk("%s: ESI %pM\n", card->name, card->atmdev->esi);
 	}
 	/*