diff --git a/drivers/ata/libata-scsi.c b/drivers/ata/libata-scsi.c
index b43a3196e2be..3fb84f690644 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/libata-scsi.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/libata-scsi.c
@@ -4894,8 +4894,10 @@ void ata_scsi_dev_rescan(struct work_struct *work)
 			spin_unlock_irqrestore(ap->lock, flags);
 			if (do_resume) {
 				ret = scsi_resume_device(sdev);
-				if (ret == -EWOULDBLOCK)
+				if (ret == -EWOULDBLOCK) {
+					scsi_device_put(sdev);
 					goto unlock_scan;
+				}
 				dev->flags &= ~ATA_DFLAG_RESUMING;
 			}
 			ret = scsi_rescan_device(sdev);