diff --git a/drivers/i3c/master.c b/drivers/i3c/master.c
index f1be38a640ca..ac408086ddcc 100644
--- a/drivers/i3c/master.c
+++ b/drivers/i3c/master.c
@@ -1934,7 +1934,9 @@ i3c_master_register_new_i3c_devs(struct i3c_master_controller *master)
 		if (ret) {
 			dev_err(&master->dev,
 				"Failed to add I3C device (err = %d)\n", ret);
+			desc->dev->desc = NULL;
 			put_device(&desc->dev->dev);
+			desc->dev = NULL;
 		}
 	}
 }