diff --git a/drivers/block/null_blk/main.c b/drivers/block/null_blk/main.c
index 4613035222cd..6cb213779cc5 100644
--- a/drivers/block/null_blk/main.c
+++ b/drivers/block/null_blk/main.c
@@ -2194,8 +2194,6 @@ static void __exit null_exit(void)
 
 	configfs_unregister_subsystem(&nullb_subsys);
 
-	unregister_blkdev(null_major, "nullb");
-
 	mutex_lock(&lock);
 	while (!list_empty(&nullb_list)) {
 		nullb = list_entry(nullb_list.next, struct nullb, list);
@@ -2203,6 +2201,8 @@ static void __exit null_exit(void)
 	}
 	mutex_unlock(&lock);
 
+	unregister_blkdev(null_major, "nullb");
+
 	if (tag_set.ops)
 		blk_mq_free_tag_set(&tag_set);