diff --git a/drivers/net/team/team.c b/drivers/net/team/team.c
index d0c18e3557f1..cea6d2eabe7e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/team/team.c
+++ b/drivers/net/team/team.c
@@ -480,6 +480,9 @@ static const struct team_mode *team_mode_get(const char *kind)
 	struct team_mode_item *mitem;
 	const struct team_mode *mode = NULL;
 
+	if (!try_module_get(THIS_MODULE))
+		return NULL;
+
 	spin_lock(&mode_list_lock);
 	mitem = __find_mode(kind);
 	if (!mitem) {
@@ -495,6 +498,7 @@ static const struct team_mode *team_mode_get(const char *kind)
 	}
 
 	spin_unlock(&mode_list_lock);
+	module_put(THIS_MODULE);
 	return mode;
 }