diff --git a/drivers/phy/phy-core.c b/drivers/phy/phy-core.c
index c64a2f3b2d62..49c446530101 100644
--- a/drivers/phy/phy-core.c
+++ b/drivers/phy/phy-core.c
@@ -614,8 +614,9 @@ struct phy *phy_create(struct device *dev, const struct phy_ops *ops,
 	return phy;
 
 put_dev:
-	put_device(&phy->dev);
-	ida_remove(&phy_ida, phy->id);
+	put_device(&phy->dev);  /* calls phy_release() which frees resources */
+	return ERR_PTR(ret);
+
 free_phy:
 	kfree(phy);
 	return ERR_PTR(ret);
@@ -799,7 +800,7 @@ static void phy_release(struct device *dev)
 
 	phy = to_phy(dev);
 	dev_vdbg(dev, "releasing '%s'\n", dev_name(dev));
-	ida_remove(&phy_ida, phy->id);
+	ida_simple_remove(&phy_ida, phy->id);
 	kfree(phy);
 }