diff --git a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
index d0adae3267b4..2b28515de92c 100644
--- a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
+++ b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_ldisc.c
@@ -685,6 +685,8 @@ static int hci_uart_register_dev(struct hci_uart *hu)
 		return err;
 	}
 
+	set_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_INIT, &hu->flags);
+
 	if (test_bit(HCI_UART_INIT_PENDING, &hu->hdev_flags))
 		return 0;
 
@@ -712,8 +714,6 @@ static int hci_uart_set_proto(struct hci_uart *hu, int id)
 
 	hu->proto = p;
 
-	set_bit(HCI_UART_PROTO_INIT, &hu->flags);
-
 	err = hci_uart_register_dev(hu);
 	if (err) {
 		return err;