diff --git a/drivers/usb/usb-skeleton.c b/drivers/usb/usb-skeleton.c
index 85b01f1fcd80d907e032e9bb37ecc9662311e977..e0cf11f798c54c0423409a91901dbac98760a7ad 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/usb-skeleton.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/usb-skeleton.c
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ struct usb_skel {
 	spinlock_t		err_lock;		/* lock for errors */
 	struct kref		kref;
 	struct mutex		io_mutex;		/* synchronize I/O with disconnect */
+	unsigned long		disconnected:1;
 	wait_queue_head_t	bulk_in_wait;		/* to wait for an ongoing read */
 };
 #define to_skel_dev(d) container_of(d, struct usb_skel, kref)
@@ -236,7 +237,7 @@ static ssize_t skel_read(struct file *file, char *buffer, size_t count,
 	if (rv < 0)
 		return rv;
 
-	if (!dev->interface) {		/* disconnect() was called */
+	if (dev->disconnected) {		/* disconnect() was called */
 		rv = -ENODEV;
 		goto exit;
 	}
@@ -418,7 +419,7 @@ static ssize_t skel_write(struct file *file, const char *user_buffer,
 
 	/* this lock makes sure we don't submit URBs to gone devices */
 	mutex_lock(&dev->io_mutex);
-	if (!dev->interface) {		/* disconnect() was called */
+	if (dev->disconnected) {		/* disconnect() was called */
 		mutex_unlock(&dev->io_mutex);
 		retval = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
@@ -569,7 +570,7 @@ static void skel_disconnect(struct usb_interface *interface)
 
 	/* prevent more I/O from starting */
 	mutex_lock(&dev->io_mutex);
-	dev->interface = NULL;
+	dev->disconnected = 1;
 	mutex_unlock(&dev->io_mutex);
 
 	usb_kill_anchored_urbs(&dev->submitted);