diff --git a/drivers/mmc/core/sdio_bus.c b/drivers/mmc/core/sdio_bus.c
index cac9e0f13320..f6cdec00e97e 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/core/sdio_bus.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/core/sdio_bus.c
@@ -293,6 +293,12 @@ static void sdio_release_func(struct device *dev)
 	if (!(func->card->quirks & MMC_QUIRK_NONSTD_SDIO))
 		sdio_free_func_cis(func);
 
+	/*
+	 * We have now removed the link to the tuples in the
+	 * card structure, so remove the reference.
+	 */
+	put_device(&func->card->dev);
+
 	kfree(func->info);
 	kfree(func->tmpbuf);
 	kfree(func);
@@ -323,6 +329,12 @@ struct sdio_func *sdio_alloc_func(struct mmc_card *card)
 
 	device_initialize(&func->dev);
 
+	/*
+	 * We may link to tuples in the card structure,
+	 * we need make sure we have a reference to it.
+	 */
+	get_device(&func->card->dev);
+
 	func->dev.parent = &card->dev;
 	func->dev.bus = &sdio_bus_type;
 	func->dev.release = sdio_release_func;
@@ -376,10 +388,9 @@ int sdio_add_func(struct sdio_func *func)
  */
 void sdio_remove_func(struct sdio_func *func)
 {
-	if (!sdio_func_present(func))
-		return;
+	if (sdio_func_present(func))
+		device_del(&func->dev);
 
-	device_del(&func->dev);
 	of_node_put(func->dev.of_node);
 	put_device(&func->dev);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/mmc/core/sdio_cis.c b/drivers/mmc/core/sdio_cis.c
index a705ba6eff5b..afaa6cab1adc 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/core/sdio_cis.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/core/sdio_cis.c
@@ -403,12 +403,6 @@ int sdio_read_func_cis(struct sdio_func *func)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	/*
-	 * Since we've linked to tuples in the card structure,
-	 * we must make sure we have a reference to it.
-	 */
-	get_device(&func->card->dev);
-
 	/*
 	 * Vendor/device id is optional for function CIS, so
 	 * copy it from the card structure as needed.
@@ -434,11 +428,5 @@ void sdio_free_func_cis(struct sdio_func *func)
 	}
 
 	func->tuples = NULL;
-
-	/*
-	 * We have now removed the link to the tuples in the
-	 * card structure, so remove the reference.
-	 */
-	put_device(&func->card->dev);
 }