diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index e11c2222d9af..79a6910eb894 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -2253,6 +2253,7 @@ void regulator_unregister(struct regulator_dev *rdev)
 		return;
 
 	mutex_lock(&regulator_list_mutex);
+	WARN_ON(rdev->open_count);
 	unset_regulator_supplies(rdev);
 	list_del(&rdev->list);
 	if (rdev->supply)