diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c b/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c
index 225c7315..790456b 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq_clientmgr.c
@@ -1248,8 +1248,8 @@
 }
 
 
-/* 
- * CREATE PORT ioctl() 
+/*
+ * CREATE PORT ioctl()
  */
 static int snd_seq_ioctl_create_port(struct snd_seq_client *client,
 				     void __user *arg)
@@ -1257,6 +1257,7 @@
 	struct snd_seq_client_port *port;
 	struct snd_seq_port_info info;
 	struct snd_seq_port_callback *callback;
+	int port_idx;
 
 	if (copy_from_user(&info, arg, sizeof(info)))
 		return -EFAULT;
@@ -1270,7 +1271,9 @@
 		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) {
@@ -1292,6 +1295,7 @@
 
 	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);
 
 	if (copy_to_user(arg, &info, sizeof(info)))
 		return -EFAULT;
@@ -1299,8 +1303,8 @@
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/* 
- * DELETE PORT ioctl() 
+/*
+ * DELETE PORT ioctl()
  */
 static int snd_seq_ioctl_delete_port(struct snd_seq_client *client,
 				     void __user *arg)
@@ -1323,8 +1327,8 @@
 }
 
 
-/* 
- * GET_PORT_INFO ioctl() (on any client) 
+/*
+ * GET_PORT_INFO ioctl() (on any client)
  */
 static int snd_seq_ioctl_get_port_info(struct snd_seq_client *client,
 				       void __user *arg)
diff --git a/sound/core/seq/seq_ports.c b/sound/core/seq/seq_ports.c
index 794a341..543a1cc 100644
--- a/sound/core/seq/seq_ports.c
+++ b/sound/core/seq/seq_ports.c
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+
 /*
  *   ALSA sequencer Ports
  *   Copyright (c) 1998 by Frank van de Pol <fvdpol@coil.demon.nl>
@@ -122,14 +123,16 @@
 }
 
 
-/* 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)
 {
 	unsigned long flags;
 	struct snd_seq_client_port *new_port, *p;
 	int num = -1;
-	
+
 	/* sanity check */
 	if (snd_BUG_ON(!client))
 		return NULL;
@@ -153,6 +156,7 @@
 	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);
@@ -167,9 +171,9 @@
 	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;
 }