diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvb_frontend.c b/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvb_frontend.c
index a05aa271a1b..c3bb114b89d 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvb_frontend.c
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvb_frontend.c
@@ -2911,6 +2911,7 @@ static int dvb_frontend_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 		mb();
 	}
 
+	dvb_device_get(dvbdev);
 	ret = dvb_generic_release(inode, file);
 
 	if (dvbdev->users == -1) {
@@ -2931,6 +2932,7 @@ static int dvb_frontend_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 			fe->ops.ts_bus_ctrl(fe, 0);
 	}
 
+	dvb_device_put(dvbdev);
 	dvb_frontend_put(fe);
 
 	return ret;