diff --git a/drivers/char/misc.c b/drivers/char/misc.c
index b8e66466184f..96ed343cf5c8 100644
--- a/drivers/char/misc.c
+++ b/drivers/char/misc.c
@@ -288,6 +288,8 @@ void misc_deregister(struct miscdevice *misc)
 	list_del(&misc->list);
 	device_destroy(&misc_class, MKDEV(MISC_MAJOR, misc->minor));
 	misc_minor_free(misc->minor);
+	if (misc->minor > MISC_DYNAMIC_MINOR)
+		misc->minor = MISC_DYNAMIC_MINOR;
 	mutex_unlock(&misc_mtx);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(misc_deregister);