diff --git a/net/8021q/vlan.c b/net/8021q/vlan.c
index a3a0a5e994f5..abaa5d96ded2 100644
--- a/net/8021q/vlan.c
+++ b/net/8021q/vlan.c
@@ -184,9 +184,6 @@ int register_vlan_dev(struct net_device *dev, struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 	if (err)
 		goto out_unregister_netdev;
 
-	/* Account for reference in struct vlan_dev_priv */
-	dev_hold(real_dev);
-
 	vlan_stacked_transfer_operstate(real_dev, dev, vlan);
 	linkwatch_fire_event(dev); /* _MUST_ call rfc2863_policy() */
 
diff --git a/net/8021q/vlan_dev.c b/net/8021q/vlan_dev.c
index aeeb5f90417b..8602885c8a8e 100644
--- a/net/8021q/vlan_dev.c
+++ b/net/8021q/vlan_dev.c
@@ -615,6 +615,9 @@ static int vlan_dev_init(struct net_device *dev)
 	if (!vlan->vlan_pcpu_stats)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
+	/* Get vlan's reference to real_dev */
+	dev_hold(real_dev);
+
 	return 0;
 }