diff --git a/drivers/base/base.h b/drivers/base/base.h
index afeda89fd471..30b416588617 100644
--- a/drivers/base/base.h
+++ b/drivers/base/base.h
@@ -312,6 +312,7 @@ static inline int devtmpfs_create_node(struct device *dev) { return 0; }
 static inline int devtmpfs_delete_node(struct device *dev) { return 0; }
 #endif
 
+void software_node_init(void);
 void software_node_notify(struct device *dev);
 void software_node_notify_remove(struct device *dev);
 
diff --git a/drivers/base/init.c b/drivers/base/init.c
index 9d2b06d65dfc..af8014416c24 100644
--- a/drivers/base/init.c
+++ b/drivers/base/init.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ void __init driver_init(void)
 	 */
 	faux_bus_init();
 	of_core_init();
+	software_node_init();
 	platform_bus_init();
 	auxiliary_bus_init();
 	memory_dev_init();
diff --git a/drivers/base/swnode.c b/drivers/base/swnode.c
index 26cbe1c2a2e0..a80575bf598b 100644
--- a/drivers/base/swnode.c
+++ b/drivers/base/swnode.c
@@ -1127,11 +1127,9 @@ void software_node_notify_remove(struct device *dev)
 	}
 }
 
-static int __init software_node_init(void)
+void __init software_node_init(void)
 {
 	swnode_kset = kset_create_and_add("software_nodes", NULL, kernel_kobj);
 	if (!swnode_kset)
-		return -ENOMEM;
-	return 0;
+		pr_err("failed to register software nodes\n");
 }
-postcore_initcall(software_node_init);