diff --git a/sound/core/pcm.c b/sound/core/pcm.c
index c133f23418fe..35ece386d1a2 100644
--- a/sound/core/pcm.c
+++ b/sound/core/pcm.c
@@ -853,8 +853,10 @@ static int snd_pcm_free(struct snd_pcm *pcm)
 {
 	if (!pcm)
 		return 0;
-	if (!pcm->internal)
-		pcm_call_notify(pcm, n_unregister);
+	if (!pcm->internal) {
+		scoped_guard(mutex, &register_mutex)
+			pcm_call_notify(pcm, n_unregister);
+	}
 	if (pcm->private_free)
 		pcm->private_free(pcm);
 	snd_pcm_lib_preallocate_free_for_all(pcm);