diff --git a/drivers/mtd/mtdcore.c b/drivers/mtd/mtdcore.c
index 31d1be4b2261..2d6423d89a17 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/mtdcore.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/mtdcore.c
@@ -993,6 +993,8 @@ int __get_mtd_device(struct mtd_info *mtd)
 		}
 	}
 
+	master->usecount++;
+
 	while (mtd->parent) {
 		mtd->usecount++;
 		mtd = mtd->parent;
@@ -1059,6 +1061,8 @@ void __put_mtd_device(struct mtd_info *mtd)
 		mtd = mtd->parent;
 	}
 
+	master->usecount--;
+
 	if (master->_put_device)
 		master->_put_device(master);