diff --git a/include/net/nfc/nci_core.h b/include/net/nfc/nci_core.h
index 33979017b782..004e49f74841 100644
--- a/include/net/nfc/nci_core.h
+++ b/include/net/nfc/nci_core.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ enum nci_flag {
 	NCI_UP,
 	NCI_DATA_EXCHANGE,
 	NCI_DATA_EXCHANGE_TO,
+	NCI_UNREG,
 };
 
 /* NCI device states */
diff --git a/net/nfc/nci/core.c b/net/nfc/nci/core.c
index 1d0aa9e6044b..b8ecb002e623 100644
--- a/net/nfc/nci/core.c
+++ b/net/nfc/nci/core.c
@@ -473,6 +473,11 @@ static int nci_open_device(struct nci_dev *ndev)
 
 	mutex_lock(&ndev->req_lock);
 
+	if (test_bit(NCI_UNREG, &ndev->flags)) {
+		rc = -ENODEV;
+		goto done;
+	}
+
 	if (test_bit(NCI_UP, &ndev->flags)) {
 		rc = -EALREADY;
 		goto done;
@@ -536,6 +541,10 @@ done:
 static int nci_close_device(struct nci_dev *ndev)
 {
 	nci_req_cancel(ndev, ENODEV);
+
+	/* This mutex needs to be held as a barrier for
+	 * caller nci_unregister_device
+	 */
 	mutex_lock(&ndev->req_lock);
 
 	if (!test_and_clear_bit(NCI_UP, &ndev->flags)) {
@@ -573,8 +582,8 @@ static int nci_close_device(struct nci_dev *ndev)
 	/* Flush cmd wq */
 	flush_workqueue(ndev->cmd_wq);
 
-	/* Clear flags */
-	ndev->flags = 0;
+	/* Clear flags except NCI_UNREG */
+	ndev->flags &= BIT(NCI_UNREG);
 
 	mutex_unlock(&ndev->req_lock);
 
@@ -1256,6 +1265,12 @@ void nci_unregister_device(struct nci_dev *ndev)
 {
 	struct nci_conn_info    *conn_info, *n;
 
+	/* This set_bit is not protected with specialized barrier,
+	 * However, it is fine because the mutex_lock(&ndev->req_lock);
+	 * in nci_close_device() will help to emit one.
+	 */
+	set_bit(NCI_UNREG, &ndev->flags);
+
 	nci_close_device(ndev);
 
 	destroy_workqueue(ndev->cmd_wq);