diff --git a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_port.c b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_port.c
index 7eddcab31..2da9db9 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_port.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/serial/8250/8250_port.c
@@ -2269,9 +2269,9 @@ static void serial8250_initialize(struct uart_port *port)
 {
 	unsigned long flags;
 
+	uart_port_lock_irqsave(port, &flags);
 	serial_port_out(port, UART_LCR, UART_LCR_WLEN8);
 
-	uart_port_lock_irqsave(port, &flags);
 	serial8250_init_mctrl(port);
 	serial8250_iir_txen_test(port);
 	uart_port_unlock_irqrestore(port, flags);