diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index 351f0fd225b14..f6a95f72af18d 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -5543,6 +5543,8 @@ regulator_register(struct device *dev,
 		goto rinse;
 	}
 	device_initialize(&rdev->dev);
+	dev_set_drvdata(&rdev->dev, rdev);
+	rdev->dev.class = &regulator_class;
 	spin_lock_init(&rdev->err_lock);
 
 	/*
@@ -5604,11 +5606,9 @@ regulator_register(struct device *dev,
 		rdev->supply_name = regulator_desc->supply_name;
 
 	/* register with sysfs */
-	rdev->dev.class = &regulator_class;
 	rdev->dev.parent = config->dev;
 	dev_set_name(&rdev->dev, "regulator.%lu",
 		    (unsigned long) atomic_inc_return(&regulator_no));
-	dev_set_drvdata(&rdev->dev, rdev);
 
 	/* set regulator constraints */
 	if (init_data)