diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
index e6f3f19474889..61cbf498fd077 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
@@ -616,6 +616,9 @@ struct rtl8169_private {
 	spinlock_t config25_lock;
 	spinlock_t mac_ocp_lock;
 
+	spinlock_t cfg9346_usage_lock;
+	int cfg9346_usage_count;
+
 	unsigned supports_gmii:1;
 	unsigned aspm_manageable:1;
 	dma_addr_t counters_phys_addr;
@@ -664,12 +667,22 @@ static inline struct device *tp_to_dev(struct rtl8169_private *tp)
 
 static void rtl_lock_config_regs(struct rtl8169_private *tp)
 {
-	RTL_W8(tp, Cfg9346, Cfg9346_Lock);
+	unsigned long flags;
+
+	spin_lock_irqsave(&tp->cfg9346_usage_lock, flags);
+	if (!--tp->cfg9346_usage_count)
+		RTL_W8(tp, Cfg9346, Cfg9346_Lock);
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&tp->cfg9346_usage_lock, flags);
 }
 
 static void rtl_unlock_config_regs(struct rtl8169_private *tp)
 {
-	RTL_W8(tp, Cfg9346, Cfg9346_Unlock);
+	unsigned long flags;
+
+	spin_lock_irqsave(&tp->cfg9346_usage_lock, flags);
+	if (!tp->cfg9346_usage_count++)
+		RTL_W8(tp, Cfg9346, Cfg9346_Unlock);
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&tp->cfg9346_usage_lock, flags);
 }
 
 static void rtl_pci_commit(struct rtl8169_private *tp)
@@ -5229,6 +5242,7 @@ static int rtl_init_one(struct pci_dev *pdev, const struct pci_device_id *ent)
 	tp->eee_adv = -1;
 	tp->ocp_base = OCP_STD_PHY_BASE;
 
+	spin_lock_init(&tp->cfg9346_usage_lock);
 	spin_lock_init(&tp->config25_lock);
 	spin_lock_init(&tp->mac_ocp_lock);