diff --git a/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-blackbird.c b/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-blackbird.c
index bca307e..85910c6 100644
--- a/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-blackbird.c
+++ b/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-blackbird.c
@@ -1122,10 +1122,16 @@ static int mpeg_release(struct file *file)
 	mutex_lock(&dev->core->lock);
 	file->private_data = NULL;
 	kfree(fh);
-	mutex_unlock(&dev->core->lock);
 
 	/* Make sure we release the hardware */
 	drv = cx8802_get_driver(dev, CX88_MPEG_BLACKBIRD);
+	mutex_unlock(&dev->core->lock);
+
+	/*
+	 * NEEDSWORK: the driver can be yanked from under our feet.
+	 * The following really ought to be protected with core->lock.
+	 */
+
 	if (drv)
 		drv->request_release(drv);
 
diff --git a/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-dvb.c b/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-dvb.c
index 7b8c9d3..5d0f947 100644
--- a/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-dvb.c
+++ b/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-dvb.c
@@ -133,7 +133,15 @@ static int cx88_dvb_bus_ctrl(struct dvb_frontend* fe, int acquire)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
+	mutex_lock(&dev->core->lock);
 	drv = cx8802_get_driver(dev, CX88_MPEG_DVB);
+	mutex_unlock(&dev->core->lock);
+
+	/*
+	 * NEEDSWORK: The driver can be yanked from under our feet now.
+	 * We ought to keep holding core->lock during the below.
+	 */
+
 	if (drv) {
 		if (acquire){
 			dev->frontends.active_fe_id = fe_id;
diff --git a/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-mpeg.c b/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-mpeg.c
index addf954..918172b 100644
--- a/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-mpeg.c
+++ b/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-mpeg.c
@@ -748,6 +748,8 @@ int cx8802_unregister_driver(struct cx8802_driver *drv)
 		       dev->pci->subsystem_device, dev->core->board.name,
 		       dev->core->boardnr);
 
+		mutex_lock(&dev->core->lock);
+
 		list_for_each_entry_safe(d, dtmp, &dev->drvlist, drvlist) {
 			/* only unregister the correct driver type */
 			if (d->type_id != drv->type_id)
@@ -755,15 +757,14 @@ int cx8802_unregister_driver(struct cx8802_driver *drv)
 
 			err = d->remove(d);
 			if (err == 0) {
-				mutex_lock(&drv->core->lock);
 				list_del(&d->drvlist);
-				mutex_unlock(&drv->core->lock);
 				kfree(d);
 			} else
 				printk(KERN_ERR "%s/2: cx8802 driver remove "
 				       "failed (%d)\n", dev->core->name, err);
 		}
 
+		mutex_unlock(&dev->core->lock);
 	}
 
 	return err;
@@ -827,6 +828,8 @@ static void __devexit cx8802_remove(struct pci_dev *pci_dev)
 
 	flush_request_modules(dev);
 
+	mutex_lock(&dev->core->lock);
+
 	if (!list_empty(&dev->drvlist)) {
 		struct cx8802_driver *drv, *tmp;
 		int err;
@@ -838,9 +841,7 @@ static void __devexit cx8802_remove(struct pci_dev *pci_dev)
 		list_for_each_entry_safe(drv, tmp, &dev->drvlist, drvlist) {
 			err = drv->remove(drv);
 			if (err == 0) {
-				mutex_lock(&drv->core->lock);
 				list_del(&drv->drvlist);
-				mutex_unlock(&drv->core->lock);
 			} else
 				printk(KERN_ERR "%s/2: cx8802 driver remove "
 				       "failed (%d)\n", dev->core->name, err);
@@ -848,6 +849,8 @@ static void __devexit cx8802_remove(struct pci_dev *pci_dev)
 		}
 	}
 
+	mutex_unlock(&dev->core->lock);
+
 	/* Destroy any 8802 reference. */
 	dev->core->dvbdev = NULL;
 
diff --git a/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88.h b/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88.h
index 9b3742a..e3d56c2 100644
--- a/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88.h
+++ b/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88.h
@@ -506,7 +506,11 @@ struct cx8802_driver {
 	int (*resume)(struct pci_dev *pci_dev);
 
 	/* MPEG 8802 -> mini driver - Driver probe and configuration */
+
+	/* Caller must _not_ hold core->lock */
 	int (*probe)(struct cx8802_driver *drv);
+
+	/* Caller must hold core->lock */
 	int (*remove)(struct cx8802_driver *drv);
 
 	/* MPEG 8802 -> mini driver - Access for hardware control */
@@ -561,8 +565,9 @@ struct cx8802_dev {
 	/* for switching modulation types */
 	unsigned char              ts_gen_cntrl;
 
-	/* List of attached drivers */
+	/* List of attached drivers; must hold core->lock to access */
 	struct list_head	   drvlist;
+
 	struct work_struct	   request_module_wk;
 };
 
@@ -685,6 +690,8 @@ int cx88_audio_thread(void *data);
 
 int cx8802_register_driver(struct cx8802_driver *drv);
 int cx8802_unregister_driver(struct cx8802_driver *drv);
+
+/* Caller must hold core->lock */
 struct cx8802_driver * cx8802_get_driver(struct cx8802_dev *dev, enum cx88_board_type btype);
 
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------- */
