diff --git a/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c b/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c
index 06f14008b346..d72156517726 100644
--- a/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c
+++ b/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c
@@ -173,6 +173,17 @@ static void v4l2_device_release(struct device *cd)
 		media_device_unregister_entity(&vdev->entity);
 #endif
 
+	/* Do not call v4l2_device_put if there is no release callback set.
+	 * Drivers that have no v4l2_device release callback might free the
+	 * v4l2_dev instance in the video_device release callback below, so we
+	 * must perform this check here.
+	 *
+	 * TODO: In the long run all drivers that use v4l2_device should use the
+	 * v4l2_device release callback. This check will then be unnecessary.
+	 */
+	if (v4l2_dev->release == NULL)
+		v4l2_dev = NULL;
+
 	/* Release video_device and perform other
 	   cleanups as needed. */
 	vdev->release(vdev);