diff --git a/include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h b/include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h
index 99984688ccdd..4ccf3749a9a7 100644
--- a/include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h
+++ b/include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h
@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@ struct adv_entry {
 struct hci_dev {
 	struct list_head list;
 	struct mutex	lock;
-	atomic_t	refcnt;
 
 	char		name[8];
 	unsigned long	flags;
@@ -592,7 +591,7 @@ static inline void hci_conn_put(struct hci_conn *conn)
 /* ----- HCI Devices ----- */
 static inline void __hci_dev_put(struct hci_dev *d)
 {
-	atomic_dec(&d->refcnt);
+	put_device(&d->dev);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -603,7 +602,7 @@ static inline void __hci_dev_put(struct hci_dev *d)
 
 static inline struct hci_dev *__hci_dev_hold(struct hci_dev *d)
 {
-	atomic_inc(&d->refcnt);
+	get_device(&d->dev);
 	return d;
 }
 
diff --git a/net/bluetooth/hci_core.c b/net/bluetooth/hci_core.c
index 58392a6b48b5..f5fba65a9e59 100644
--- a/net/bluetooth/hci_core.c
+++ b/net/bluetooth/hci_core.c
@@ -1571,7 +1571,6 @@ int hci_register_dev(struct hci_dev *hdev)
 	hdev->id = id;
 	list_add_tail(&hdev->list, head);
 
-	atomic_set(&hdev->refcnt, 1);
 	mutex_init(&hdev->lock);
 
 	hdev->flags = 0;
@@ -1655,6 +1654,7 @@ int hci_register_dev(struct hci_dev *hdev)
 	schedule_work(&hdev->power_on);
 
 	hci_notify(hdev, HCI_DEV_REG);
+	__hci_dev_hold(hdev);
 
 	return id;