diff --git a/drivers/hv/channel_mgmt.c b/drivers/hv/channel_mgmt.c
index a2d1a9612c86c4730c6aa2f0ce038ca06da4f9c5..d36ce6835fb73fb95ebd75c27d081e65c25dfa04 100644
--- a/drivers/hv/channel_mgmt.c
+++ b/drivers/hv/channel_mgmt.c
@@ -216,9 +216,16 @@ static void vmbus_process_rescind_offer(struct work_struct *work)
 	unsigned long flags;
 	struct vmbus_channel *primary_channel;
 	struct vmbus_channel_relid_released msg;
+	struct device *dev;
+
+	if (channel->device_obj) {
+		dev = get_device(&channel->device_obj->device);
+		if (dev) {
+			vmbus_device_unregister(channel->device_obj);
+			put_device(dev);
+		}
+	}
 
-	if (channel->device_obj)
-		vmbus_device_unregister(channel->device_obj);
 	memset(&msg, 0, sizeof(struct vmbus_channel_relid_released));
 	msg.child_relid = channel->offermsg.child_relid;
 	msg.header.msgtype = CHANNELMSG_RELID_RELEASED;