diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index b6724b62476e..8eba2eb0793e 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -1260,7 +1260,9 @@ static int set_machine_constraints(struct regulator_dev *rdev)
 				return ret;
 			}
 		}
-		rdev->use_count++;
+
+		if (rdev->constraints->always_on)
+			rdev->use_count++;
 	}
 
 	print_constraints(rdev);