diff --git a/drivers/s390/scsi/zfcp_unit.c b/drivers/s390/scsi/zfcp_unit.c
index 1119c535a667..20796ebc33ce 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/scsi/zfcp_unit.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/scsi/zfcp_unit.c
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ int zfcp_unit_add(struct zfcp_port *port, u64 fcp_lun)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
+	get_device(&port->dev);
+
 	if (device_register(&unit->dev)) {
 		put_device(&unit->dev);
 		return -ENOMEM;
@@ -152,8 +154,6 @@ int zfcp_unit_add(struct zfcp_port *port, u64 fcp_lun)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	get_device(&port->dev);
-
 	write_lock_irq(&port->unit_list_lock);
 	list_add_tail(&unit->list, &port->unit_list);
 	write_unlock_irq(&port->unit_list_lock);