diff --git a/net/nfc/core.c b/net/nfc/core.c
index ff646d1758d162fc1f04db3031fde167142d7e72..54168bbc07cbf5b7110ca16b403490a49f5551e0 100644
--- a/net/nfc/core.c
+++ b/net/nfc/core.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ int nfc_fw_download(struct nfc_dev *dev, const char *firmware_name)
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
 	}
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ int nfc_dev_up(struct nfc_dev *dev)
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
 	}
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ int nfc_dev_down(struct nfc_dev *dev)
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
 	}
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ int nfc_start_poll(struct nfc_dev *dev, u32 im_protocols, u32 tm_protocols)
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
 	}
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ int nfc_stop_poll(struct nfc_dev *dev)
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
 	}
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ int nfc_dep_link_up(struct nfc_dev *dev, int target_index, u8 comm_mode)
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
 	}
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ int nfc_dep_link_down(struct nfc_dev *dev)
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
 	}
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ int nfc_activate_target(struct nfc_dev *dev, u32 target_idx, u32 protocol)
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
 	}
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ int nfc_deactivate_target(struct nfc_dev *dev, u32 target_idx, u8 mode)
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
 	}
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ int nfc_data_exchange(struct nfc_dev *dev, u32 target_idx, struct sk_buff *skb,
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		kfree_skb(skb);
 		goto error;
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ int nfc_enable_se(struct nfc_dev *dev, u32 se_idx)
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
 	}
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ int nfc_disable_se(struct nfc_dev *dev, u32 se_idx)
 
 	device_lock(&dev->dev);
 
-	if (!device_is_registered(&dev->dev)) {
+	if (dev->shutting_down) {
 		rc = -ENODEV;
 		goto error;
 	}
@@ -1139,6 +1139,7 @@ int nfc_register_device(struct nfc_dev *dev)
 			dev->rfkill = NULL;
 		}
 	}
+	dev->shutting_down = false;
 	device_unlock(&dev->dev);
 
 	rc = nfc_genl_device_added(dev);
@@ -1171,12 +1172,10 @@ void nfc_unregister_device(struct nfc_dev *dev)
 		rfkill_unregister(dev->rfkill);
 		rfkill_destroy(dev->rfkill);
 	}
+	dev->shutting_down = true;
 	device_unlock(&dev->dev);
 
 	if (dev->ops->check_presence) {
-		device_lock(&dev->dev);
-		dev->shutting_down = true;
-		device_unlock(&dev->dev);
 		del_timer_sync(&dev->check_pres_timer);
 		cancel_work_sync(&dev->check_pres_work);
 	}