diff --git a/include/linux/netdevice.h b/include/linux/netdevice.h
index 6d440db35d5f3..007bcfa383c9b 100644
--- a/include/linux/netdevice.h
+++ b/include/linux/netdevice.h
@@ -2448,7 +2448,7 @@ struct net_device {
 	 * Should always be taken using netdev_lock() / netdev_unlock() helpers.
 	 * Drivers are free to use it for other protection.
 	 *
-	 * Protects: @net_shaper_hierarchy.
+	 * Protects: @reg_state, @net_shaper_hierarchy.
 	 * Ordering: take after rtnl_lock.
 	 */
 	struct mutex		lock;
diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index 47e6b0f73cfc7..bbe6fb9e32cdf 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -10695,7 +10695,9 @@ int register_netdevice(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	ret = netdev_register_kobject(dev);
 
+	netdev_lock(dev);
 	WRITE_ONCE(dev->reg_state, ret ? NETREG_UNREGISTERED : NETREG_REGISTERED);
+	netdev_unlock(dev);
 
 	if (ret)
 		goto err_uninit_notify;
@@ -10969,7 +10971,9 @@ void netdev_run_todo(void)
 			continue;
 		}
 
+		netdev_lock(dev);
 		WRITE_ONCE(dev->reg_state, NETREG_UNREGISTERED);
+		netdev_unlock(dev);
 		linkwatch_sync_dev(dev);
 	}
 
@@ -11575,7 +11579,9 @@ void unregister_netdevice_many_notify(struct list_head *head,
 	list_for_each_entry(dev, head, unreg_list) {
 		/* And unlink it from device chain. */
 		unlist_netdevice(dev);
+		netdev_lock(dev);
 		WRITE_ONCE(dev->reg_state, NETREG_UNREGISTERING);
+		netdev_unlock(dev);
 	}
 	flush_all_backlogs();