diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi.c b/drivers/spi/spi.c
index 0022a49797f9..f589d8100e95 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi.c
@@ -2306,6 +2306,8 @@ void spi_unregister_controller(struct spi_controller *ctlr)
 	struct spi_controller *found;
 	int id = ctlr->bus_num;
 
+	device_for_each_child(&ctlr->dev, NULL, __unregister);
+
 	/* First make sure that this controller was ever added */
 	mutex_lock(&board_lock);
 	found = idr_find(&spi_master_idr, id);
@@ -2318,7 +2320,6 @@ void spi_unregister_controller(struct spi_controller *ctlr)
 	list_del(&ctlr->list);
 	mutex_unlock(&board_lock);
 
-	device_for_each_child(&ctlr->dev, NULL, __unregister);
 	device_unregister(&ctlr->dev);
 	/* free bus id */
 	mutex_lock(&board_lock);