diff --git a/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c b/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c
index 1d9e267caec9..d6d6d95e48aa 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/tvlv.c
@@ -528,15 +528,20 @@ void batadv_tvlv_handler_register(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 {
 	struct batadv_tvlv_handler *tvlv_handler;
 
+	spin_lock_bh(&bat_priv->tvlv.handler_list_lock);
+
 	tvlv_handler = batadv_tvlv_handler_get(bat_priv, type, version);
 	if (tvlv_handler) {
+		spin_unlock_bh(&bat_priv->tvlv.handler_list_lock);
 		batadv_tvlv_handler_put(tvlv_handler);
 		return;
 	}
 
 	tvlv_handler = kzalloc(sizeof(*tvlv_handler), GFP_ATOMIC);
-	if (!tvlv_handler)
+	if (!tvlv_handler) {
+		spin_unlock_bh(&bat_priv->tvlv.handler_list_lock);
 		return;
+	}
 
 	tvlv_handler->ogm_handler = optr;
 	tvlv_handler->unicast_handler = uptr;
@@ -546,7 +551,6 @@ void batadv_tvlv_handler_register(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 	kref_init(&tvlv_handler->refcount);
 	INIT_HLIST_NODE(&tvlv_handler->list);
 
-	spin_lock_bh(&bat_priv->tvlv.handler_list_lock);
 	kref_get(&tvlv_handler->refcount);
 	hlist_add_head_rcu(&tvlv_handler->list, &bat_priv->tvlv.handler_list);
 	spin_unlock_bh(&bat_priv->tvlv.handler_list_lock);