diff --git a/drivers/base/core.c b/drivers/base/core.c
index 5632fc9a804e..9a72a46ce1c3 100644
--- a/drivers/base/core.c
+++ b/drivers/base/core.c
@@ -347,12 +347,14 @@ struct device_link *device_link_add(struct device *consumer,
 
 		if (flags & DL_FLAG_STATELESS) {
 			kref_get(&link->kref);
-			link->flags |= DL_FLAG_STATELESS;
 			if (link->flags & DL_FLAG_SYNC_STATE_ONLY &&
-			    !(link->flags & DL_FLAG_STATELESS))
+			    !(link->flags & DL_FLAG_STATELESS)) {
+				link->flags |= DL_FLAG_STATELESS;
 				goto reorder;
-			else
+			} else {
+				link->flags |= DL_FLAG_STATELESS;
 				goto out;
+			}
 		}
 
 		/*