diff --git a/net/wireless/core.c b/net/wireless/core.c
index 3af0ecf1cc16..2a0bbd22854b 100644
--- a/net/wireless/core.c
+++ b/net/wireless/core.c
@@ -1199,6 +1199,7 @@ out_fail_wq:
 	regulatory_exit();
 out_fail_reg:
 	debugfs_remove(ieee80211_debugfs_dir);
+	nl80211_exit();
 out_fail_nl80211:
 	unregister_netdevice_notifier(&cfg80211_netdev_notifier);
 out_fail_notifier: