diff --git a/net/bluetooth/hci_core.c b/net/bluetooth/hci_core.c
index 7ed5d6e47e4f..cd4d931368a0 100644
--- a/net/bluetooth/hci_core.c
+++ b/net/bluetooth/hci_core.c
@@ -3706,6 +3706,9 @@ static int hci_suspend_notifier(struct notifier_block *nb, unsigned long action,
 	int ret = 0;
 	u8 state = BT_RUNNING;
 
+	/* To avoid a potential race with hci_unregister_dev. */
+	hci_dev_hold(hdev);
+
 	/* If powering down, wait for completion. */
 	if (mgmt_powering_down(hdev)) {
 		set_bit(SUSPEND_POWERING_DOWN, hdev->suspend_tasks);
@@ -3757,6 +3760,7 @@ static int hci_suspend_notifier(struct notifier_block *nb, unsigned long action,
 		bt_dev_err(hdev, "Suspend notifier action (%lu) failed: %d",
 			   action, ret);
 
+	hci_dev_put(hdev);
 	return NOTIFY_DONE;
 }