diff --git a/drivers/char/misc.c b/drivers/char/misc.c
index 69e8ce02e099..726516fb0a3b 100644
--- a/drivers/char/misc.c
+++ b/drivers/char/misc.c
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(misc_register);
 void misc_deregister(struct miscdevice *misc)
 {
 	mutex_lock(&misc_mtx);
-	list_del(&misc->list);
+	list_del_init(&misc->list);
 	device_destroy(&misc_class, MKDEV(MISC_MAJOR, misc->minor));
 	misc_minor_free(misc->minor);
 	if (misc->minor > MISC_DYNAMIC_MINOR)