diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index d652ea66e5755..3924a4af68b81 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -11629,6 +11629,7 @@ void unregister_netdevice_many_notify(struct list_head *head,
 	rtnl_drop_if_cleanup_net();
 	flush_all_backlogs();
 	rtnl_acquire_if_cleanup_net();
+	/* TODO: move this before the prior rtnl_acquire_if_cleanup_net() */
 	synchronize_net();
 
 	list_for_each_entry(dev, head, unreg_list) {
@@ -11689,7 +11690,9 @@ void unregister_netdevice_many_notify(struct list_head *head,
 #endif
 	}
 
+	rtnl_drop_if_cleanup_net();
 	synchronize_net();
+	rtnl_acquire_if_cleanup_net();
 
 	list_for_each_entry(dev, head, unreg_list) {
 		netdev_put(dev, &dev->dev_registered_tracker);