diff --git a/drivers/usb/usb-skeleton.c b/drivers/usb/usb-skeleton.c
index 296b091cf168..46929a1b6f24 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/usb-skeleton.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/usb-skeleton.c
@@ -90,14 +90,16 @@ static int skel_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 		goto exit;
 	}
 
-	/* prevent the device from being autosuspended */
-	retval = usb_autopm_get_interface(interface);
-	if (retval)
-		goto exit;
-
 	/* increment our usage count for the device */
 	kref_get(&dev->kref);
 
+	/* prevent the device from being autosuspended */
+	retval = usb_autopm_get_interface(interface);
+	if (retval) {
+		kref_put(&dev->kref, skel_delete);
+		goto exit;
+	}
+
 	/* save our object in the file's private structure */
 	file->private_data = dev;