diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index 9fafa00b8cd4..10fb252323fb 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -2941,6 +2941,7 @@ regulator_register(const struct regulator_desc *regulator_desc,
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 
 	dev = config->dev;
+	WARN_ON(!dev);
 
 	if (regulator_desc->name == NULL || regulator_desc->ops == NULL)
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);