diff --git a/drivers/usb/phy/phy-isp1301.c b/drivers/usb/phy/phy-isp1301.c
index f9b5c411aee4..2940f0c84e1b 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/phy/phy-isp1301.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/phy/phy-isp1301.c
@@ -149,7 +149,12 @@ struct i2c_client *isp1301_get_client(struct device_node *node)
 		return client;
 
 	/* non-DT: only one ISP1301 chip supported */
-	return isp1301_i2c_client;
+	if (isp1301_i2c_client) {
+		get_device(&isp1301_i2c_client->dev);
+		return isp1301_i2c_client;
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(isp1301_get_client);