diff --git a/drivers/uio/uio.c b/drivers/uio/uio.c
index 70a7981b94b3..9916edda5271 100644
--- a/drivers/uio/uio.c
+++ b/drivers/uio/uio.c
@@ -274,6 +274,8 @@ static struct class uio_class = {
 	.dev_groups = uio_groups,
 };
 
+bool uio_class_registered;
+
 /*
  * device functions
  */
@@ -876,6 +878,9 @@ static int init_uio_class(void)
 		printk(KERN_ERR "class_register failed for uio\n");
 		goto err_class_register;
 	}
+
+	uio_class_registered = true;
+
 	return 0;
 
 err_class_register:
@@ -886,6 +891,7 @@ static int init_uio_class(void)
 
 static void release_uio_class(void)
 {
+	uio_class_registered = false;
 	class_unregister(&uio_class);
 	uio_major_cleanup();
 }
@@ -912,6 +918,9 @@ int __uio_register_device(struct module *owner,
 	struct uio_device *idev;
 	int ret = 0;
 
+	if (!uio_class_registered)
+		return -EPROBE_DEFER;
+
 	if (!parent || !info || !info->name || !info->version)
 		return -EINVAL;