diff --git a/drivers/usb/common/ulpi.c b/drivers/usb/common/ulpi.c
index 01c0c0477a9e..d1f419c7cddb 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/common/ulpi.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/common/ulpi.c
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ static int ulpi_register(struct device *dev, struct ulpi *ulpi)
 {
 	int ret;
 
+	ulpi->dev.parent = dev; /* needed early for ops */
+
 	/* Test the interface */
 	ret = ulpi_write(ulpi, ULPI_SCRATCH, 0xaa);
 	if (ret < 0)
@@ -174,7 +176,6 @@ static int ulpi_register(struct device *dev, struct ulpi *ulpi)
 	ulpi->id.product = ulpi_read(ulpi, ULPI_PRODUCT_ID_LOW);
 	ulpi->id.product |= ulpi_read(ulpi, ULPI_PRODUCT_ID_HIGH) << 8;
 
-	ulpi->dev.parent = dev;
 	ulpi->dev.bus = &ulpi_bus;
 	ulpi->dev.type = &ulpi_dev_type;
 	dev_set_name(&ulpi->dev, "%s.ulpi", dev_name(dev));