diff --git a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
index aa5169bd7747..63809e7bbc02 100644
--- a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
+++ b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
@@ -653,15 +653,14 @@ static int hci_uart_set_proto(struct hci_uart *hu, int id)
 		return err;
 
 	hu->proto = p;
-	set_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_READY, &hu->flags);
 
 	err = hci_uart_register_dev(hu);
 	if (err) {
-		clear_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_READY, &hu->flags);
 		p->close(hu);
 		return err;
 	}
 
+	set_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_READY, &hu->flags);
 	return 0;
 }