diff --git a/sound/core/rawmidi.c b/sound/core/rawmidi.c
index 795437b10082..b450a27588c8 100644
--- a/sound/core/rawmidi.c
+++ b/sound/core/rawmidi.c
@@ -1633,11 +1633,13 @@ static int snd_rawmidi_dev_register(struct snd_device *device)
 		return -EBUSY;
 	}
 	list_add_tail(&rmidi->list, &snd_rawmidi_devices);
+	mutex_unlock(&register_mutex);
 	err = snd_register_device(SNDRV_DEVICE_TYPE_RAWMIDI,
 				  rmidi->card, rmidi->device,
 				  &snd_rawmidi_f_ops, rmidi, &rmidi->dev);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		rmidi_err(rmidi, "unable to register\n");
+		mutex_lock(&register_mutex);
 		list_del(&rmidi->list);
 		mutex_unlock(&register_mutex);
 		return err;
@@ -1645,6 +1647,7 @@ static int snd_rawmidi_dev_register(struct snd_device *device)
 	if (rmidi->ops && rmidi->ops->dev_register &&
 	    (err = rmidi->ops->dev_register(rmidi)) < 0) {
 		snd_unregister_device(&rmidi->dev);
+		mutex_lock(&register_mutex);
 		list_del(&rmidi->list);
 		mutex_unlock(&register_mutex);
 		return err;
@@ -1677,7 +1680,6 @@ static int snd_rawmidi_dev_register(struct snd_device *device)
 		}
 	}
 #endif /* CONFIG_SND_OSSEMUL */
-	mutex_unlock(&register_mutex);
 	sprintf(name, "midi%d", rmidi->device);
 	entry = snd_info_create_card_entry(rmidi->card, name, rmidi->card->proc_root);
 	if (entry) {