diff --git a/sound/firewire/bebob/bebob.c b/sound/firewire/bebob/bebob.c
index 34ed8afbb30c2a77e92e08427795507f7ae399a4..3bc68499974a683b955897c807d8c523df18af15 100644
--- a/sound/firewire/bebob/bebob.c
+++ b/sound/firewire/bebob/bebob.c
@@ -128,6 +128,10 @@ name_device(struct snd_bebob *bebob)
 
 static void bebob_free(struct snd_bebob *bebob)
 {
+	mutex_lock(&devices_mutex);
+	clear_bit(bebob->card_index, devices_used);
+	mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
+
 	snd_bebob_stream_destroy_duplex(bebob);
 }
 
@@ -140,12 +144,6 @@ static void bebob_free(struct snd_bebob *bebob)
 static void
 bebob_card_free(struct snd_card *card)
 {
-	struct snd_bebob *bebob = card->private_data;
-
-	mutex_lock(&devices_mutex);
-	clear_bit(bebob->card_index, devices_used);
-	mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
-
 	bebob_free(card->private_data);
 }
 
@@ -186,7 +184,6 @@ do_registration(struct work_struct *work)
 		return;
 
 	mutex_lock(&devices_mutex);
-
 	for (card_index = 0; card_index < SNDRV_CARDS; card_index++) {
 		if (!test_bit(card_index, devices_used) && enable[card_index])
 			break;
@@ -202,6 +199,8 @@ do_registration(struct work_struct *work)
 		mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
 		return;
 	}
+	set_bit(card_index, devices_used);
+	mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
 
 	err = name_device(bebob);
 	if (err < 0)
@@ -242,9 +241,6 @@ do_registration(struct work_struct *work)
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto error;
 
-	set_bit(card_index, devices_used);
-	mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
-
 	/*
 	 * After registered, bebob instance can be released corresponding to
 	 * releasing the sound card instance.
@@ -255,7 +251,6 @@ do_registration(struct work_struct *work)
 
 	return;
 error:
-	mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
 	snd_bebob_stream_destroy_duplex(bebob);
 	snd_card_free(bebob->card);
 	dev_info(&bebob->unit->device,
diff --git a/sound/firewire/fireworks/fireworks.c b/sound/firewire/fireworks/fireworks.c
index 5854d2a87a18812320644d1e5c94016685538451..da0c31033821fb7677193c22f683b7197755f6ab 100644
--- a/sound/firewire/fireworks/fireworks.c
+++ b/sound/firewire/fireworks/fireworks.c
@@ -186,6 +186,10 @@ get_hardware_info(struct snd_efw *efw)
 
 static void efw_free(struct snd_efw *efw)
 {
+	mutex_lock(&devices_mutex);
+	clear_bit(efw->card_index, devices_used);
+	mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
+
 	snd_efw_stream_destroy_duplex(efw);
 	snd_efw_transaction_remove_instance(efw);
 }
@@ -199,14 +203,6 @@ static void efw_free(struct snd_efw *efw)
 static void
 efw_card_free(struct snd_card *card)
 {
-	struct snd_efw *efw = card->private_data;
-
-	if (efw->card_index >= 0) {
-		mutex_lock(&devices_mutex);
-		clear_bit(efw->card_index, devices_used);
-		mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
-	}
-
 	efw_free(card->private_data);
 }
 
@@ -220,9 +216,8 @@ do_registration(struct work_struct *work)
 	if (efw->registered)
 		return;
 
-	mutex_lock(&devices_mutex);
-
 	/* check registered cards */
+	mutex_lock(&devices_mutex);
 	for (card_index = 0; card_index < SNDRV_CARDS; ++card_index) {
 		if (!test_bit(card_index, devices_used) && enable[card_index])
 			break;
@@ -238,6 +233,8 @@ do_registration(struct work_struct *work)
 		mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
 		return;
 	}
+	set_bit(card_index, devices_used);
+	mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
 
 	/* prepare response buffer */
 	snd_efw_resp_buf_size = clamp(snd_efw_resp_buf_size,
@@ -279,9 +276,6 @@ do_registration(struct work_struct *work)
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto error;
 
-	set_bit(card_index, devices_used);
-	mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
-
 	/*
 	 * After registered, efw instance can be released corresponding to
 	 * releasing the sound card instance.
@@ -292,7 +286,6 @@ do_registration(struct work_struct *work)
 
 	return;
 error:
-	mutex_unlock(&devices_mutex);
 	snd_efw_transaction_remove_instance(efw);
 	snd_efw_stream_destroy_duplex(efw);
 	snd_card_free(efw->card);