diff --git a/net/mctp/device.c b/net/mctp/device.c
index 822120e860c8..9f76ff092559 100644
--- a/net/mctp/device.c
+++ b/net/mctp/device.c
@@ -344,13 +344,13 @@ static struct mctp_dev *mctp_add_dev(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	mdev->net = mctp_default_net(dev_net(dev));
 
-	/* associate to net_device */
 	refcount_set(&mdev->refs, 1);
-	rcu_assign_pointer(dev->mctp_ptr, mdev);
-
 	dev_hold(dev);
 	mdev->dev = dev;
 
+	/* Associate to net_device, publish the mdev. */
+	rcu_assign_pointer(dev->mctp_ptr, mdev);
+
 	return mdev;
 }