diff --git a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
index 96bcec5598c2..61bb2192a80b 100644
--- a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
+++ b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ static int hci_uart_flush(struct hci_dev *hdev)
 	tty_ldisc_flush(tty);
 	tty_driver_flush_buffer(tty);
 
-	if (test_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_SET, &hu->flags))
+	if (test_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_READY, &hu->flags))
 		hu->proto->flush(hu);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ static void hci_uart_tty_close(struct tty_struct *tty)
 
 	cancel_work_sync(&hu->write_work);
 
-	if (test_and_clear_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_SET, &hu->flags)) {
+	if (test_and_clear_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_READY, &hu->flags)) {
 		if (hdev) {
 			if (test_bit(HCI_UART_REGISTERED, &hu->flags))
 				hci_unregister_dev(hdev);
@@ -505,6 +505,7 @@ static void hci_uart_tty_close(struct tty_struct *tty)
 		}
 		hu->proto->close(hu);
 	}
+	clear_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_SET, &hu->flags);
 
 	kfree(hu);
 }
@@ -531,7 +532,7 @@ static void hci_uart_tty_wakeup(struct tty_struct *tty)
 	if (tty != hu->tty)
 		return;
 
-	if (test_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_SET, &hu->flags))
+	if (test_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_READY, &hu->flags))
 		hci_uart_tx_wakeup(hu);
 }
 
@@ -555,7 +556,7 @@ static void hci_uart_tty_receive(struct tty_struct *tty, const u8 *data,
 	if (!hu || tty != hu->tty)
 		return;
 
-	if (!test_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_SET, &hu->flags))
+	if (!test_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_READY, &hu->flags))
 		return;
 
 	/* It does not need a lock here as it is already protected by a mutex in
@@ -643,9 +644,11 @@ static int hci_uart_set_proto(struct hci_uart *hu, int id)
 		return err;
 
 	hu->proto = p;
+	set_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_READY, &hu->flags);
 
 	err = hci_uart_register_dev(hu);
 	if (err) {
+		clear_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_READY, &hu->flags);
 		p->close(hu);
 		return err;
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_uart.h b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_uart.h
index 82c92f1b65b4..a4d52fe70445 100644
--- a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_uart.h
+++ b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_uart.h
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ struct hci_uart {
 /* HCI_UART proto flag bits */
 #define HCI_UART_PROTO_SET	0
 #define HCI_UART_REGISTERED	1
+#define HCI_UART_PROTO_READY	2
 
 /* TX states  */
 #define HCI_UART_SENDING	1