diff --git a/include/sound/soc.h b/include/sound/soc.h
index f264c6509f00..d93cb46c536d 100644
--- a/include/sound/soc.h
+++ b/include/sound/soc.h
@@ -1148,7 +1148,6 @@ struct snd_soc_pcm_runtime {
 	struct list_head component_list; /* list of connected components */
 
 	/* bit field */
-	unsigned int dev_registered:1;
 	unsigned int pop_wait:1;
 	unsigned int fe_compr:1; /* for Dynamic PCM */
 };
diff --git a/sound/soc/soc-core.c b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
index 6abc1bc9a236..8a37850291bd 100644
--- a/sound/soc/soc-core.c
+++ b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
@@ -369,6 +369,14 @@ static void soc_free_pcm_runtime(struct snd_soc_pcm_runtime *rtd)
 	kfree(rtd->codec_dais);
 	snd_soc_rtdcom_del_all(rtd);
 	list_del(&rtd->list);
+
+	/*
+	 * we don't need to call kfree() for rtd->dev
+	 * see
+	 *	soc_release_rtd_dev()
+	 */
+	if (rtd->dev)
+		device_unregister(rtd->dev);
 	kfree(rtd);
 }
 
@@ -434,8 +442,6 @@ static struct snd_soc_pcm_runtime *soc_new_pcm_runtime(
 	rtd->num = card->num_rtd;
 	card->num_rtd++;
 
-	rtd->dev_registered = 1;
-
 	return rtd;
 
 free_rtd:
@@ -1169,7 +1175,6 @@ static int soc_probe_dai(struct snd_soc_dai *dai, int order)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static void soc_rtd_free(struct snd_soc_pcm_runtime *rtd); /* remove me */
 static void soc_remove_link_dais(struct snd_soc_card *card)
 {
 	int i;
@@ -1179,10 +1184,6 @@ static void soc_remove_link_dais(struct snd_soc_card *card)
 
 	for_each_comp_order(order) {
 		for_each_card_rtds(card, rtd) {
-
-			/* finalize rtd device */
-			soc_rtd_free(rtd);
-
 			/* remove the CODEC DAI */
 			for_each_rtd_codec_dai(rtd, i, codec_dai)
 				soc_remove_dai(codec_dai, order);
@@ -1460,15 +1461,6 @@ void snd_soc_remove_dai_link(struct snd_soc_card *card,
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_soc_remove_dai_link);
 
-static void soc_rtd_free(struct snd_soc_pcm_runtime *rtd)
-{
-	if (rtd->dev_registered) {
-		/* we don't need to call kfree() for rtd->dev */
-		device_unregister(rtd->dev);
-		rtd->dev_registered = 0;
-	}
-}
-
 static int soc_link_dai_pcm_new(struct snd_soc_dai **dais, int num_dais,
 				struct snd_soc_pcm_runtime *rtd)
 {