diff -p -up dkms-hso-1.2/hso.c.refcount dkms-hso-1.2/hso.c
--- dkms-hso-1.2/hso.c.refcount	2008-05-23 19:50:59.000000000 +0200
+++ dkms-hso-1.2/hso.c	2008-05-23 19:56:51.000000000 +0200
@@ -1103,8 +1103,8 @@ static void hso_serial_close(struct tty_
 	/* reset the rts and dtr */
 	/* do the actual close */
 	serial->open_count--;
+	kref_put(&serial->parent->ref, hso_serial_ref_free);
 	if (serial->open_count <= 0) {
-		kref_put(&serial->parent->ref, hso_serial_ref_free);
 		serial->open_count = 0;
 		if (serial->tty) {
 			serial->tty->driver_data = NULL;