diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index 75ff7c563c5d..513f95c6f837 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -5040,7 +5040,10 @@ static int regulator_init_coupling(struct regulator_dev *rdev)
 	if (!of_check_coupling_data(rdev))
 		return -EPERM;
 
+	mutex_lock(&regulator_list_mutex);
 	rdev->coupling_desc.coupler = regulator_find_coupler(rdev);
+	mutex_unlock(&regulator_list_mutex);
+
 	if (IS_ERR(rdev->coupling_desc.coupler)) {
 		err = PTR_ERR(rdev->coupling_desc.coupler);
 		rdev_err(rdev, "failed to get coupler: %d\n", err);
@@ -5248,9 +5251,7 @@ regulator_register(const struct regulator_desc *regulator_desc,
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto wash;
 
-	mutex_lock(&regulator_list_mutex);
 	ret = regulator_init_coupling(rdev);
-	mutex_unlock(&regulator_list_mutex);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto wash;