diff --git a/net/can/j1939/main.c b/net/can/j1939/main.c
index 08c8606cfd9c..9bc55ecb37f9 100644
--- a/net/can/j1939/main.c
+++ b/net/can/j1939/main.c
@@ -249,11 +249,14 @@ struct j1939_priv *j1939_netdev_start(struct net_device *ndev)
 	struct j1939_priv *priv, *priv_new;
 	int ret;
 
-	priv = j1939_priv_get_by_ndev(ndev);
+	spin_lock(&j1939_netdev_lock);
+	priv = j1939_priv_get_by_ndev_locked(ndev);
 	if (priv) {
 		kref_get(&priv->rx_kref);
+		spin_unlock(&j1939_netdev_lock);
 		return priv;
 	}
+	spin_unlock(&j1939_netdev_lock);
 
 	priv = j1939_priv_create(ndev);
 	if (!priv)
@@ -269,10 +272,10 @@ struct j1939_priv *j1939_netdev_start(struct net_device *ndev)
 		/* Someone was faster than us, use their priv and roll
 		 * back our's.
 		 */
+		kref_get(&priv_new->rx_kref);
 		spin_unlock(&j1939_netdev_lock);
 		dev_put(ndev);
 		kfree(priv);
-		kref_get(&priv_new->rx_kref);
 		return priv_new;
 	}
 	j1939_priv_set(ndev, priv);