diff --git a/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c b/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c
index b6b651cb2331..6e10b2fe2972 100644
--- a/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c
+++ b/drivers/thermal/thermal_core.c
@@ -964,6 +964,7 @@ static void thermal_release(struct device *dev)
 		     sizeof("thermal_zone") - 1)) {
 		tz = to_thermal_zone(dev);
 		thermal_zone_destroy_device_groups(tz);
+		thermal_set_governor(tz, NULL);
 		mutex_destroy(&tz->lock);
 		complete(&tz->removal);
 	} else if (!strncmp(dev_name(dev), "cooling_device",
@@ -1610,8 +1611,10 @@ thermal_zone_device_register_with_trips(const char *type,
 	/* sys I/F */
 	/* Add nodes that are always present via .groups */
 	result = thermal_zone_create_device_groups(tz);
-	if (result)
+	if (result) {
+		thermal_set_governor(tz, NULL);
 		goto remove_id;
+	}
 
 	result = device_register(&tz->device);
 	if (result)
@@ -1724,8 +1727,6 @@ void thermal_zone_device_unregister(struct thermal_zone_device *tz)
 
 	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&tz->poll_queue);
 
-	thermal_set_governor(tz, NULL);
-
 	thermal_thresholds_exit(tz);
 	thermal_remove_hwmon_sysfs(tz);
 	ida_free(&thermal_tz_ida, tz->id);