diff --git a/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c b/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c
index b31d324766725..5d19dc6a82b4d 100644
--- a/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c
+++ b/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c
@@ -1391,7 +1391,12 @@ void thermal_zone_device_unregister(struct thermal_zone_device *tz)
 	thermal_remove_hwmon_sysfs(tz);
 	ida_free(&thermal_tz_ida, tz->id);
 	ida_destroy(&tz->ida);
-	device_unregister(&tz->device);
+
+	mutex_lock(&tz->lock);
+	device_del(&tz->device);
+	mutex_unlock(&tz->lock);
+
+	put_device(&tz->device);
 
 	thermal_notify_tz_delete(tz_id);
 }