diff --git a/drivers/hwmon/it87.c b/drivers/hwmon/it87.c
index 5e39e2d403800f122cb02c400132fc1eeabac4ea..a65ba31cad29d883ec6eb5a0e4f4702d75a58a5b 100644
--- a/drivers/hwmon/it87.c
+++ b/drivers/hwmon/it87.c
@@ -539,15 +539,14 @@ static ssize_t set_sensor(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 
 	struct it87_data *data = dev_get_drvdata(dev);
 	long val;
+	u8 reg;
 
 	if (strict_strtol(buf, 10, &val) < 0)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	mutex_lock(&data->update_lock);
-
-	data->sensor = it87_read_value(data, IT87_REG_TEMP_ENABLE);
-	data->sensor &= ~(1 << nr);
-	data->sensor &= ~(8 << nr);
+	reg = it87_read_value(data, IT87_REG_TEMP_ENABLE);
+	reg &= ~(1 << nr);
+	reg &= ~(8 << nr);
 	if (val == 2) {	/* backwards compatibility */
 		dev_warn(dev, "Sensor type 2 is deprecated, please use 4 "
 			 "instead\n");
@@ -555,13 +554,14 @@ static ssize_t set_sensor(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 	}
 	/* 3 = thermal diode; 4 = thermistor; 0 = disabled */
 	if (val == 3)
-		data->sensor |= 1 << nr;
+		reg |= 1 << nr;
 	else if (val == 4)
-		data->sensor |= 8 << nr;
-	else if (val != 0) {
-		mutex_unlock(&data->update_lock);
+		reg |= 8 << nr;
+	else if (val != 0)
 		return -EINVAL;
-	}
+
+	mutex_lock(&data->update_lock);
+	data->sensor = reg;
 	it87_write_value(data, IT87_REG_TEMP_ENABLE, data->sensor);
 	mutex_unlock(&data->update_lock);
 	return count;