diff --git a/drivers/cache/ax45mp_cache.c b/drivers/cache/ax45mp_cache.c
index 1d7dd3d2c101..934c5087ec2b 100644
--- a/drivers/cache/ax45mp_cache.c
+++ b/drivers/cache/ax45mp_cache.c
@@ -178,11 +178,11 @@ static const struct of_device_id ax45mp_cache_ids[] = {
 
 static int __init ax45mp_cache_init(void)
 {
-	struct device_node *np;
 	struct resource res;
 	int ret;
 
-	np = of_find_matching_node(NULL, ax45mp_cache_ids);
+	struct device_node *np __free(device_node) =
+		of_find_matching_node(NULL, ax45mp_cache_ids);
 	if (!of_device_is_available(np))
 		return -ENODEV;