diff --git a/drivers/hv/channel_mgmt.c b/drivers/hv/channel_mgmt.c
index e5d1b0e6c922..26b419203f16 100644
--- a/drivers/hv/channel_mgmt.c
+++ b/drivers/hv/channel_mgmt.c
@@ -389,6 +389,7 @@ void vmbus_free_channels(void)
 {
 	struct vmbus_channel *channel, *tmp;
 
+	mutex_lock(&vmbus_connection.channel_mutex);
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(channel, tmp, &vmbus_connection.chn_list,
 		listentry) {
 		/* hv_process_channel_removal() needs this */
@@ -396,6 +397,7 @@ void vmbus_free_channels(void)
 
 		vmbus_device_unregister(channel->device_obj);
 	}
+	mutex_unlock(&vmbus_connection.channel_mutex);
 }
 
 /*