diff --git a/drivers/char/misc.c b/drivers/char/misc.c
index fd504d358596..190d4423653f 100644
--- a/drivers/char/misc.c
+++ b/drivers/char/misc.c
@@ -143,8 +143,8 @@ static int misc_open(struct inode * inode, struct file * file)
 	err = 0;
 	old_fops = file->f_op;
 	file->f_op = new_fops;
-	file->private_data = c;
 	if (file->f_op->open) {
+		file->private_data = c;
 		err=file->f_op->open(inode,file);
 		if (err) {
 			fops_put(file->f_op);