diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi.c b/drivers/spi/spi.c
index 2a2f41b6df68..97b5a811bd7f 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi.c
@@ -3020,12 +3020,6 @@ void spi_unregister_controller(struct spi_controller *ctlr)
 
 	device_del(&ctlr->dev);
 
-	/* Release the last reference on the controller if its driver
-	 * has not yet been converted to devm_spi_alloc_master/slave().
-	 */
-	if (!ctlr->devm_allocated)
-		put_device(&ctlr->dev);
-
 	/* free bus id */
 	mutex_lock(&board_lock);
 	if (found == ctlr)
@@ -3034,6 +3028,12 @@ void spi_unregister_controller(struct spi_controller *ctlr)
 
 	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPI_DYNAMIC))
 		mutex_unlock(&ctlr->add_lock);
+
+	/* Release the last reference on the controller if its driver
+	 * has not yet been converted to devm_spi_alloc_master/slave().
+	 */
+	if (!ctlr->devm_allocated)
+		put_device(&ctlr->dev);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(spi_unregister_controller);