diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
index 559d567693b8..5afda6fe5ae9 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
@@ -3585,7 +3585,7 @@ int nvme_init_ctrl(struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl, struct device *dev,
 
 	return 0;
 out_free_name:
-	kfree_const(dev->kobj.name);
+	kfree_const(ctrl->device->kobj.name);
 out_release_instance:
 	ida_simple_remove(&nvme_instance_ida, ctrl->instance);
 out: