diff --git a/examples/hello-sysfs.c b/examples/hello-sysfs.c
index 7fc0e77..a86f4df 100644
--- a/examples/hello-sysfs.c
+++ b/examples/hello-sysfs.c
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ static int __init mymodule_init(void)
 
     error = sysfs_create_file(mymodule, &myvariable_attribute.attr);
     if (error) {
+        kobject_put(mymodule);
         pr_info("failed to create the myvariable file "
                 "in /sys/kernel/mymodule\n");
     }