diff --git a/sound/core/rawmidi.c b/sound/core/rawmidi.c
index 7003a83c4450..9c764ed2e879 100644
--- a/sound/core/rawmidi.c
+++ b/sound/core/rawmidi.c
@@ -576,15 +576,14 @@ static int snd_rawmidi_info_user(struct snd_rawmidi_substream *substream,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int snd_rawmidi_info_select(struct snd_card *card, struct snd_rawmidi_info *info)
+static int __snd_rawmidi_info_select(struct snd_card *card,
+				     struct snd_rawmidi_info *info)
 {
 	struct snd_rawmidi *rmidi;
 	struct snd_rawmidi_str *pstr;
 	struct snd_rawmidi_substream *substream;
 
-	mutex_lock(&register_mutex);
 	rmidi = snd_rawmidi_search(card, info->device);
-	mutex_unlock(&register_mutex);
 	if (!rmidi)
 		return -ENXIO;
 	if (info->stream < 0 || info->stream > 1)
@@ -601,6 +600,16 @@ int snd_rawmidi_info_select(struct snd_card *card, struct snd_rawmidi_info *info
 	return -ENXIO;
 }
 
+int snd_rawmidi_info_select(struct snd_card *card, struct snd_rawmidi_info *info)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	mutex_lock(&register_mutex);
+	ret = __snd_rawmidi_info_select(card, info);
+	mutex_unlock(&register_mutex);
+	return ret;
+}
+
 static int snd_rawmidi_info_select_user(struct snd_card *card,
 					struct snd_rawmidi_info __user *_info)
 {