--- x/drivers/nfc/virtual_ncidev.c
+++ y/drivers/nfc/virtual_ncidev.c
@@ -156,10 +156,18 @@ static int virtual_ncidev_open(struct in
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static DEFINE_MUTEX(vnd_close_mutex);
+
 static int virtual_ncidev_close(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 {
-	struct virtual_nci_dev *vdev = file->private_data;
+	struct virtual_nci_dev *vdev;
 
+	mutex_lock(&vnd_close_mutex);
+	vdev = file->private_data;
+	file->private_data = NULL;
+	mutex_unlock(&vnd_close_mutex);
+	if (!vdev)
+		return 0;
 	nci_unregister_device(vdev->ndev);
 	nci_free_device(vdev->ndev);
 	mutex_destroy(&vdev->mtx);