hns_dsaf_find_platform_device() returns the mdio platform device with its
reference count incremented. hns_mac_register_phy() never drops that
reference, so the mdio device can not be released.

Release the reference on both the deferred probe and the normal path.

Fixes: 1d1afa2ebf82 ("net: hns: register phy device in each mac initial sequence")
Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org
Signed-off-by: Wentao Liang <vulab@iscas.ac.cn>
---
 drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hns/hns_dsaf_mac.c | 3 +++
 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+)

diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hns/hns_dsaf_mac.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hns/hns_dsaf_mac.c
index bc6b269be299..f1cb6d56e4b9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hns/hns_dsaf_mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/hisilicon/hns/hns_dsaf_mac.c
@@ -793,6 +793,7 @@ static int hns_mac_register_phy(struct hns_mac_cb *mac_cb)
 		dev_err(mac_cb->dev,
 			"mac%d mdio is NULL, dsaf will probe again later\n",
 			mac_cb->mac_id);
+		put_device(&pdev->dev);
 		return -EPROBE_DEFER;
 	}
 
@@ -801,6 +802,8 @@ static int hns_mac_register_phy(struct hns_mac_cb *mac_cb)
 		dev_dbg(mac_cb->dev, "mac%d register phy addr:%d\n",
 			mac_cb->mac_id, addr);
 
+	put_device(&pdev->dev);
+
 	return rc;
 }
 
-- 
2.34.1

On Thu, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:08:28AM +0000, Wentao Liang wrote:
> hns_dsaf_find_platform_device() returns the mdio platform device with its
> reference count incremented. hns_mac_register_phy() never drops that
> reference, so the mdio device can not be released.
> 
> Release the reference on both the deferred probe and the normal path.
> 
> Fixes: 1d1afa2ebf82 ("net: hns: register phy device in each mac initial sequence")
> Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org
> Signed-off-by: Wentao Liang <vulab@iscas.ac.cn>

Reviewed-by: Simon Horman <horms@kernel.org>