diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvbdev.c b/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvbdev.c
index d45673cb3ce17..2a857cf70c944 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvbdev.c
@@ -482,8 +482,8 @@ int dvb_register_device(struct dvb_adapter *adap, struct dvb_device **pdvbdev,
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	kref_init(&dvbdev->ref);
 	memcpy(dvbdev, template, sizeof(struct dvb_device));
+	kref_init(&dvbdev->ref);
 	dvbdev->type = type;
 	dvbdev->id = id;
 	dvbdev->adapter = adap;