diff --git a/drivers/ipack/carriers/tpci200.c b/drivers/ipack/carriers/tpci200.c
index de5e32151a1e..9b23843dcad4 100644
--- a/drivers/ipack/carriers/tpci200.c
+++ b/drivers/ipack/carriers/tpci200.c
@@ -572,7 +572,8 @@ static int tpci200_pci_probe(struct pci_dev *pdev,
 	/* Register the carrier in the industry pack bus driver */
 	tpci200->info->ipack_bus = ipack_bus_register(&pdev->dev,
 						      TPCI200_NB_SLOT,
-						      &tpci200_bus_ops);
+						      &tpci200_bus_ops,
+						      THIS_MODULE);
 	if (!tpci200->info->ipack_bus) {
 		dev_err(&pdev->dev,
 			"error registering the carrier on ipack driver\n");
diff --git a/drivers/ipack/ipack.c b/drivers/ipack/ipack.c
index d0016ba469ed..c0e7b624ce54 100644
--- a/drivers/ipack/ipack.c
+++ b/drivers/ipack/ipack.c
@@ -206,7 +206,8 @@ static struct bus_type ipack_bus_type = {
 };
 
 struct ipack_bus_device *ipack_bus_register(struct device *parent, int slots,
-					    const struct ipack_bus_ops *ops)
+					    const struct ipack_bus_ops *ops,
+					    struct module *owner)
 {
 	int bus_nr;
 	struct ipack_bus_device *bus;
@@ -225,6 +226,7 @@ struct ipack_bus_device *ipack_bus_register(struct device *parent, int slots,
 	bus->parent = parent;
 	bus->slots = slots;
 	bus->ops = ops;
+	bus->owner = owner;
 	return bus;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(ipack_bus_register);
diff --git a/include/linux/ipack.h b/include/linux/ipack.h
index 1888e06ddf64..8bddc3fbdddf 100644
--- a/include/linux/ipack.h
+++ b/include/linux/ipack.h
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ struct ipack_bus_ops {
  *	@ops: bus operations for the mezzanine drivers
  */
 struct ipack_bus_device {
+	struct module *owner;
 	struct device *parent;
 	int slots;
 	int bus_nr;
@@ -189,7 +190,8 @@ struct ipack_bus_device {
  * available bus device in ipack.
  */
 struct ipack_bus_device *ipack_bus_register(struct device *parent, int slots,
-					    const struct ipack_bus_ops *ops);
+					    const struct ipack_bus_ops *ops,
+					    struct module *owner);
 
 /**
  *	ipack_bus_unregister -- unregister an ipack bus
@@ -265,3 +267,23 @@ void ipack_put_device(struct ipack_device *dev);
 	 .format = (_format), \
 	 .vendor = (vend), \
 	 .device = (dev)
+
+/**
+ * ipack_get_carrier - it increase the carrier ref. counter of
+ *                     the carrier module
+ * @dev: mezzanine device which wants to get the carrier
+ */
+static inline int ipack_get_carrier(struct ipack_device *dev)
+{
+	return try_module_get(dev->bus->owner);
+}
+
+/**
+ * ipack_get_carrier - it decrease the carrier ref. counter of
+ *                     the carrier module
+ * @dev: mezzanine device which wants to get the carrier
+ */
+static inline void ipack_put_carrier(struct ipack_device *dev)
+{
+	module_put(dev->bus->owner);
+}