diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
index f32ca293ae0e..d075df641c2c 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
@@ -1825,7 +1825,8 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(i2c_get_adapter);
 
 void i2c_put_adapter(struct i2c_adapter *adap)
 {
-	module_put(adap->owner);
+	if (adap)
+		module_put(adap->owner);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(i2c_put_adapter);