diff --git a/drivers/target/target_core_device.c b/drivers/target/target_core_device.c
index a9ad6ecb18124..e5c90afb40e67 100644
--- a/drivers/target/target_core_device.c
+++ b/drivers/target/target_core_device.c
@@ -880,14 +880,20 @@ sector_t target_to_linux_sector(struct se_device *dev, sector_t lb)
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(target_to_linux_sector);
 
 struct devices_idr_iter {
+	struct config_item *prev_item;
 	int (*fn)(struct se_device *dev, void *data);
 	void *data;
 };
 
 static int target_devices_idr_iter(int id, void *p, void *data)
+	 __must_hold(&device_mutex)
 {
 	struct devices_idr_iter *iter = data;
 	struct se_device *dev = p;
+	int ret;
+
+	config_item_put(iter->prev_item);
+	iter->prev_item = NULL;
 
 	/*
 	 * We add the device early to the idr, so it can be used
@@ -898,7 +904,15 @@ static int target_devices_idr_iter(int id, void *p, void *data)
 	if (!(dev->dev_flags & DF_CONFIGURED))
 		return 0;
 
-	return iter->fn(dev, iter->data);
+	iter->prev_item = config_item_get_unless_zero(&dev->dev_group.cg_item);
+	if (!iter->prev_item)
+		return 0;
+	mutex_unlock(&device_mutex);
+
+	ret = iter->fn(dev, iter->data);
+
+	mutex_lock(&device_mutex);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -912,15 +926,13 @@ static int target_devices_idr_iter(int id, void *p, void *data)
 int target_for_each_device(int (*fn)(struct se_device *dev, void *data),
 			   void *data)
 {
-	struct devices_idr_iter iter;
+	struct devices_idr_iter iter = { .fn = fn, .data = data };
 	int ret;
 
-	iter.fn = fn;
-	iter.data = data;
-
 	mutex_lock(&device_mutex);
 	ret = idr_for_each(&devices_idr, target_devices_idr_iter, &iter);
 	mutex_unlock(&device_mutex);
+	config_item_put(iter.prev_item);
 	return ret;
 }