diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/max3100.c b/drivers/tty/serial/max3100.c
index b3b77ffd5b42..24cd345ea6e3 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/max3100.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/max3100.c
@@ -751,13 +751,14 @@ static int max3100_probe(struct spi_device *spi)
 	mutex_lock(&max3100s_lock);
 
 	if (!uart_driver_registered) {
-		uart_driver_registered = 1;
 		retval = uart_register_driver(&max3100_uart_driver);
 		if (retval) {
 			printk(KERN_ERR "Couldn't register max3100 uart driver\n");
 			mutex_unlock(&max3100s_lock);
 			return retval;
 		}
+
+		uart_driver_registered = 1;
 	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < MAX_MAX3100; i++)
@@ -843,6 +844,7 @@ static int max3100_remove(struct spi_device *spi)
 		}
 	pr_debug("removing max3100 driver\n");
 	uart_unregister_driver(&max3100_uart_driver);
+	uart_driver_registered = 0;
 
 	mutex_unlock(&max3100s_lock);
 	return 0;