diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
index 002988d..1388ca7 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/omapdrm/omap_fbdev.c
@@ -371,6 +371,9 @@
 
 	fbdev = to_omap_fbdev(priv->fbdev);
 
+	/* release the ref taken in omap_fbdev_create() */
+	omap_gem_put_paddr(fbdev->bo);
+
 	/* this will free the backing object */
 	if (fbdev->fb) {
 		drm_framebuffer_unregister_private(fbdev->fb);