diff --git a/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/net/phy/swconfig.c b/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/net/phy/swconfig.c
index 1baccb1ba..e772c9448 100644
--- a/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/net/phy/swconfig.c
+++ b/target/linux/generic/files/drivers/net/phy/swconfig.c
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ swconfig_get_dev(struct genl_info *info)
 		break;
 	}
 	if (dev)
-		spin_lock(&dev->lock);
+		mutex_lock(&dev->sw_mutex);
 	else
 		DPRINTF("device %d not found\n", id);
 	swconfig_unlock();
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ done:
 static inline void
 swconfig_put_dev(struct switch_dev *dev)
 {
-	spin_unlock(&dev->lock);
+	mutex_unlock(&dev->sw_mutex);
 }
 
 static int
@@ -962,7 +962,7 @@ register_switch(struct switch_dev *dev, struct net_device *netdev)
 			return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 	swconfig_defaults_init(dev);
-	spin_lock_init(&dev->lock);
+	mutex_init(&dev->sw_mutex);
 	swconfig_lock();
 	dev->id = ++swdev_id;
 
@@ -1000,11 +1000,11 @@ unregister_switch(struct switch_dev *dev)
 {
 	swconfig_destroy_led_trigger(dev);
 	kfree(dev->portbuf);
-	spin_lock(&dev->lock);
+	mutex_lock(&dev->sw_mutex);
 	swconfig_lock();
 	list_del(&dev->dev_list);
 	swconfig_unlock();
-	spin_unlock(&dev->lock);
+	mutex_unlock(&dev->sw_mutex);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(unregister_switch);
 
diff --git a/target/linux/generic/files/include/linux/switch.h b/target/linux/generic/files/include/linux/switch.h
index 2c88bb327..4f4085ef8 100644
--- a/target/linux/generic/files/include/linux/switch.h
+++ b/target/linux/generic/files/include/linux/switch.h
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ struct switch_dev {
 	struct list_head dev_list;
 	unsigned long def_global, def_port, def_vlan;
 
-	spinlock_t lock;
+	struct mutex sw_mutex;
 	struct switch_port *portbuf;
 
 	char buf[128];