diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index 088ed4ee6d83..045075cd256c 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -1211,7 +1211,9 @@ static int set_machine_constraints(struct regulator_dev *rdev)
 			rdev_err(rdev, "failed to enable\n");
 			return ret;
 		}
-		rdev->use_count++;
+
+		if (rdev->constraints->always_on)
+			rdev->use_count++;
 	}
 
 	print_constraints(rdev);