diff --git a/drivers/mmc/core/sdio.c b/drivers/mmc/core/sdio.c
index c3ad1058cd31..42a949b723b8 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/core/sdio.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/core/sdio.c
@@ -560,6 +560,19 @@ static void mmc_sdio_detect(struct mmc_host *host)
 
 	mmc_release_host(host);
 
+	/*
+	 * Tell PM core it's OK to power off the card now.
+	 *
+	 * The _sync variant is used in order to ensure that the card
+	 * is left powered off in case an error occurred, and the card
+	 * is going to be removed.
+	 *
+	 * Since there is no specific reason to believe a new user
+	 * is about to show up at this point, the _sync variant is
+	 * desirable anyway.
+	 */
+	pm_runtime_put_sync(&host->card->dev);
+
 out:
 	if (err) {
 		mmc_sdio_remove(host);
@@ -568,9 +581,6 @@ out:
 		mmc_detach_bus(host);
 		mmc_release_host(host);
 	}
-
-	/* Tell PM core that we're done */
-	pm_runtime_put(&host->card->dev);
 }
 
 /*