diff --git a/drivers/base/core.c b/drivers/base/core.c
index d7fcf823a42a..a8dfee20df78 100644
--- a/drivers/base/core.c
+++ b/drivers/base/core.c
@@ -93,6 +93,9 @@ static void device_release(struct kobject * kobj)
 {
 	struct device * dev = to_dev(kobj);
 
+	kfree(dev->devt_attr);
+	dev->devt_attr = NULL;
+
 	if (dev->release)
 		dev->release(dev);
 	else if (dev->type && dev->type->release)
@@ -765,10 +768,8 @@ void device_del(struct device * dev)
 
 	if (parent)
 		klist_del(&dev->knode_parent);
-	if (dev->devt_attr) {
+	if (dev->devt_attr)
 		device_remove_file(dev, dev->devt_attr);
-		kfree(dev->devt_attr);
-	}
 	if (dev->class) {
 		sysfs_remove_link(&dev->kobj, "subsystem");
 		/* If this is not a "fake" compatible device, remove the