diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c b/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c
index ea2d0ae85bd3..6c9cba2166d9 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c
@@ -1259,6 +1259,7 @@ static int snd_seq_ioctl_create_port(struct snd_seq_client *client, void *arg)
 	struct snd_seq_port_info *info = arg;
 	struct snd_seq_client_port *port;
 	struct snd_seq_port_callback *callback;
+	int port_idx;
 
 	/* it is not allowed to create the port for an another client */
 	if (info->addr.client != client->number)
@@ -1269,7 +1270,9 @@ static int snd_seq_ioctl_create_port(struct snd_seq_client *client, void *arg)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	if (client->type == USER_CLIENT && info->kernel) {
-		snd_seq_delete_port(client, port->addr.port);
+		port_idx = port->addr.port;
+		snd_seq_port_unlock(port);
+		snd_seq_delete_port(client, port_idx);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 	if (client->type == KERNEL_CLIENT) {
@@ -1290,6 +1293,7 @@ static int snd_seq_ioctl_create_port(struct snd_seq_client *client, void *arg)
 
 	snd_seq_set_port_info(port, info);
 	snd_seq_system_client_ev_port_start(port->addr.client, port->addr.port);
+	snd_seq_port_unlock(port);
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq_ports.c b/sound/core/seq/seq_ports.c
index 0a7020c82bfc..d21ece9f8d73 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq_ports.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq_ports.c
@@ -122,7 +122,9 @@ static void port_subs_info_init(struct snd_seq_port_subs_info *grp)
 }
 
 
-/* create a port, port number is returned (-1 on failure) */
+/* create a port, port number is returned (-1 on failure);
+ * the caller needs to unref the port via snd_seq_port_unlock() appropriately
+ */
 struct snd_seq_client_port *snd_seq_create_port(struct snd_seq_client *client,
 						int port)
 {
@@ -151,6 +153,7 @@ struct snd_seq_client_port *snd_seq_create_port(struct snd_seq_client *client,
 	snd_use_lock_init(&new_port->use_lock);
 	port_subs_info_init(&new_port->c_src);
 	port_subs_info_init(&new_port->c_dest);
+	snd_use_lock_use(&new_port->use_lock);
 
 	num = port >= 0 ? port : 0;
 	mutex_lock(&client->ports_mutex);
@@ -165,9 +168,9 @@ struct snd_seq_client_port *snd_seq_create_port(struct snd_seq_client *client,
 	list_add_tail(&new_port->list, &p->list);
 	client->num_ports++;
 	new_port->addr.port = num;	/* store the port number in the port */
+	sprintf(new_port->name, "port-%d", num);
 	write_unlock_irqrestore(&client->ports_lock, flags);
 	mutex_unlock(&client->ports_mutex);
-	sprintf(new_port->name, "port-%d", num);
 
 	return new_port;
 }