diff --git a/drivers/power/sequencing/core.c b/drivers/power/sequencing/core.c
index c1c2265160a3..02f42da91598 100644
--- a/drivers/power/sequencing/core.c
+++ b/drivers/power/sequencing/core.c
@@ -543,15 +543,18 @@ void pwrseq_device_unregister(struct pwrseq_device *pwrseq)
 	struct device *dev = &pwrseq->dev;
 	struct pwrseq_target *target;
 
-	scoped_guard(mutex, &pwrseq->state_lock) {
+	scoped_guard(rwsem_write, &pwrseq_sem) {
 		guard(rwsem_write)(&pwrseq->rw_lock);
 
+		/*
+		 * Holding rw_lock for write excludes all power on/off callers
+		 * (they hold it for read), so it's safe to read enable_count
+		 * here without taking the state_lock.
+		 */
 		list_for_each_entry(target, &pwrseq->targets, list)
 			WARN(target->unit->enable_count,
 			     "REMOVING POWER SEQUENCER WITH ACTIVE USERS\n");
 
-		guard(rwsem_write)(&pwrseq_sem);
-
 		device_del(dev);
 	}