diff --git a/kernel/padata.c b/kernel/padata.c
index cfab62923c452f..c280cb153915fb 100644
--- a/kernel/padata.c
+++ b/kernel/padata.c
@@ -671,8 +671,8 @@ int padata_set_cpumask(struct padata_instance *pinst, int cpumask_type,
 	struct cpumask *serial_mask, *parallel_mask;
 	int err = -EINVAL;
 
-	mutex_lock(&pinst->lock);
 	get_online_cpus();
+	mutex_lock(&pinst->lock);
 
 	switch (cpumask_type) {
 	case PADATA_CPU_PARALLEL:
@@ -690,8 +690,8 @@ int padata_set_cpumask(struct padata_instance *pinst, int cpumask_type,
 	err =  __padata_set_cpumasks(pinst, parallel_mask, serial_mask);
 
 out:
-	put_online_cpus();
 	mutex_unlock(&pinst->lock);
+	put_online_cpus();
 
 	return err;
 }