diff --git a/drivers/misc/mei/nfc.c b/drivers/misc/mei/nfc.c
index 0a892205ce7e..54961903bf21 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/mei/nfc.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/mei/nfc.c
@@ -469,7 +469,9 @@ static void mei_nfc_init(struct work_struct *work)
 	return;
 
 err:
+	mutex_lock(&dev->device_lock);
 	mei_nfc_free(ndev);
+	mutex_unlock(&dev->device_lock);
 
 	return;
 }