{
                        /* demod I2C adapter */
                        struct i2c_adapter *i2c_adapter;
+                       struct i2c_client *client;
                        struct i2c_board_info info;
                        struct m88ts2022_config m88ts2022_config = {
                                .clock = 27000000,
                        info.addr = 0x60;
                        info.platform_data = &m88ts2022_config;
                        request_module("m88ts2022");
-                       dvb->i2c_client_tuner = i2c_new_device(i2c_adapter, &info);
+                       client = i2c_new_device(i2c_adapter, &info);
+                       if (client == NULL || client->dev.driver == NULL) {
+                               dvb_frontend_detach(dvb->fe[0]);
+                               result = -ENODEV;
+                               goto out_free;
+                       }
+
+                       if (!try_module_get(client->dev.driver->owner)) {
+                               i2c_unregister_device(client);
+                               dvb_frontend_detach(dvb->fe[0]);
+                               result = -ENODEV;
+                               goto out_free;
+                       }
 
                        /* delegate signal strength measurement to tuner */
                        dvb->fe[0]->ops.read_signal_strength =
                        if (!dvb_attach(a8293_attach, dvb->fe[0],
                                        &dev->i2c_adap[dev->def_i2c_bus],
                                        &em28xx_a8293_config)) {
+                               module_put(client->dev.driver->owner);
+                               i2c_unregister_device(client);
                                dvb_frontend_detach(dvb->fe[0]);
                                result = -ENODEV;
                                goto out_free;
                        }
+
+                       dvb->i2c_client_tuner = client;
                }
                break;
        default:
 
        if (dev->dvb) {
                struct em28xx_dvb *dvb = dev->dvb;
+               struct i2c_client *client = dvb->i2c_client_tuner;
 
                em28xx_uninit_usb_xfer(dev, EM28XX_DIGITAL_MODE);
 
                                prevent_sleep(&dvb->fe[1]->ops);
                }
 
-               i2c_release_client(dvb->i2c_client_tuner);
+               /* remove I2C tuner */
+               if (client) {
+                       module_put(client->dev.driver->owner);
+                       i2c_unregister_device(client);
+               }
+
                em28xx_unregister_dvb(dvb);
                kfree(dvb);
                dev->dvb = NULL;