diff --git a/drivers/cpufreq/cpufreq.c b/drivers/cpufreq/cpufreq.c
index 67bc2ec..8438f03 100644
--- a/drivers/cpufreq/cpufreq.c
+++ b/drivers/cpufreq/cpufreq.c
@@ -1113,6 +1113,8 @@ static int __cpufreq_remove_dev(struct sys_device *sys_dev)
 	unsigned int cpu = sys_dev->id;
 	unsigned long flags;
 	struct cpufreq_policy *data;
+	struct kobject *kobj;
+	struct completion *cmp;
 #ifdef CONFIG_SMP
 	struct sys_device *cpu_sys_dev;
 	unsigned int j;
@@ -1192,19 +1194,22 @@ static int __cpufreq_remove_dev(struct sys_device *sys_dev)
 	if (cpufreq_driver->target)
 		__cpufreq_governor(data, CPUFREQ_GOV_STOP);
 
-	kobject_put(&data->kobj);
+	kobj = &data->kobj;
+	cmp = &data->kobj_unregister;
+	unlock_policy_rwsem_write(cpu);
+	kobject_put(kobj);
 
 	/* we need to make sure that the underlying kobj is actually
 	 * not referenced anymore by anybody before we proceed with
 	 * unloading.
 	 */
 	dprintk("waiting for dropping of refcount\n");
-	wait_for_completion(&data->kobj_unregister);
+	wait_for_completion(cmp);
 	dprintk("wait complete\n");
 
+	lock_policy_rwsem_write(cpu);
 	if (cpufreq_driver->exit)
 		cpufreq_driver->exit(data);
-
 	unlock_policy_rwsem_write(cpu);
 
 	free_cpumask_var(data->related_cpus);