diff --git a/sound/firewire/motu/motu.c b/sound/firewire/motu/motu.c
index 2684e7447432..bdd82ddeb6ec 100644
--- a/sound/firewire/motu/motu.c
+++ b/sound/firewire/motu/motu.c
@@ -38,59 +38,108 @@ static void name_card(struct snd_motu *motu)
 		 dev_name(&motu->unit->device), 100 << fw_dev->max_speed);
 }
 
-static void motu_card_free(struct snd_card *card)
+static void motu_free(struct snd_motu *motu)
 {
-	struct snd_motu *motu = card->private_data;
-
 	fw_unit_put(motu->unit);
 
 	mutex_destroy(&motu->mutex);
+	kfree(motu);
+}
+
+/*
+ * This module releases the FireWire unit data after all ALSA character devices
+ * are released by applications. This is for releasing stream data or finishing
+ * transactions safely. Thus at returning from .remove(), this module still keep
+ * references for the unit.
+ */
+static void motu_card_free(struct snd_card *card)
+{
+	motu_free(card->private_data);
+}
+
+static void do_registration(struct work_struct *work)
+{
+	struct snd_motu *motu = container_of(work, struct snd_motu, dwork.work);
+	int err;
+
+	if (motu->registered)
+		return;
+
+	err = snd_card_new(&motu->unit->device, -1, NULL, THIS_MODULE, 0,
+			   &motu->card);
+	if (err < 0)
+		return;
+
+	name_card(motu);
+
+	err = snd_card_register(motu->card);
+	if (err < 0)
+		goto error;
+
+	/*
+	 * After registered, motu instance can be released corresponding to
+	 * releasing the sound card instance.
+	 */
+	motu->card->private_free = motu_card_free;
+	motu->card->private_data = motu;
+	motu->registered = true;
+
+	return;
+error:
+	snd_card_free(motu->card);
+	dev_info(&motu->unit->device,
+		 "Sound card registration failed: %d\n", err);
 }
 
 static int motu_probe(struct fw_unit *unit,
 		      const struct ieee1394_device_id *entry)
 {
-	struct snd_card *card;
 	struct snd_motu *motu;
-	int err;
 
-	err = snd_card_new(&unit->device, -1, NULL, THIS_MODULE,
-			   sizeof(*motu), &card);
-	if (err < 0)
-		return err;
+	/* Allocate this independently of sound card instance. */
+	motu = kzalloc(sizeof(struct snd_motu), GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (motu == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	motu = card->private_data;
-	motu->card = card;
 	motu->unit = fw_unit_get(unit);
-	card->private_free = motu_card_free;
+	dev_set_drvdata(&unit->device, motu);
 
 	mutex_init(&motu->mutex);
 
-	name_card(motu);
-
-	err = snd_card_register(card);
-	if (err < 0)
-		goto error;
-
-	dev_set_drvdata(&unit->device, motu);
+	/* Allocate and register this sound card later. */
+	INIT_DEFERRABLE_WORK(&motu->dwork, do_registration);
+	snd_fw_schedule_registration(unit, &motu->dwork);
 
 	return 0;
-error:
-	snd_card_free(card);
-	return err;
 }
 
 static void motu_remove(struct fw_unit *unit)
 {
 	struct snd_motu *motu = dev_get_drvdata(&unit->device);
 
-	/* No need to wait for releasing card object in this context. */
-	snd_card_free_when_closed(motu->card);
+	/*
+	 * Confirm to stop the work for registration before the sound card is
+	 * going to be released. The work is not scheduled again because bus
+	 * reset handler is not called anymore.
+	 */
+	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&motu->dwork);
+
+	if (motu->registered) {
+		/* No need to wait for releasing card object in this context. */
+		snd_card_free_when_closed(motu->card);
+	} else {
+		/* Don't forget this case. */
+		motu_free(motu);
+	}
 }
 
 static void motu_bus_update(struct fw_unit *unit)
 {
-	return;
+	struct snd_motu *motu = dev_get_drvdata(&unit->device);
+
+	/* Postpone a workqueue for deferred registration. */
+	if (!motu->registered)
+		snd_fw_schedule_registration(unit, &motu->dwork);
 }
 
 #define SND_MOTU_DEV_ENTRY(model)			\
diff --git a/sound/firewire/motu/motu.h b/sound/firewire/motu/motu.h
index f3d0b2834942..eb0ffd56c835 100644
--- a/sound/firewire/motu/motu.h
+++ b/sound/firewire/motu/motu.h
@@ -20,10 +20,15 @@
 #include <sound/control.h>
 #include <sound/core.h>
 
+#include "../lib.h"
+
 struct snd_motu {
 	struct snd_card *card;
 	struct fw_unit *unit;
 	struct mutex mutex;
+
+	bool registered;
+	struct delayed_work dwork;
 };
 
 #endif