diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
index b1c9abe..3454878 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core.c
@@ -799,10 +799,10 @@ void i2c_del_driver(struct i2c_driver *driver)
 	class_for_each_device(&i2c_adapter_class, NULL, driver,
 			      __detach_adapter);
 
+	mutex_unlock(&core_lock);
+
 	driver_unregister(&driver->driver);
 	pr_debug("i2c-core: driver [%s] unregistered\n", driver->driver.name);
-
-	mutex_unlock(&core_lock);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(i2c_del_driver);