--- x/net/nfc/nci/core.c
+++ c/net/nfc/nci/core.c
@@ -541,8 +541,10 @@ static int nci_open_device(struct nci_de
 		skb_queue_purge(&ndev->rx_q);
 		skb_queue_purge(&ndev->tx_q);
 
-		ndev->ops->close(ndev);
 		ndev->flags = 0;
+		mutex_unlock(&ndev->req_lock);
+		ndev->ops->close(ndev);
+		return rc;
 	}
 
 done: