diff --git a/sound/soc/soc-core.c b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
index 6c62d4a54cdf..99712f652d0d 100644
--- a/sound/soc/soc-core.c
+++ b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static int soc_ac97_dev_register(struct snd_soc_codec *codec)
 	int err;
 
 	codec->ac97->dev.bus = &ac97_bus_type;
-	codec->ac97->dev.parent = NULL;
+	codec->ac97->dev.parent = codec->card->dev;
 	codec->ac97->dev.release = soc_ac97_device_release;
 
 	dev_set_name(&codec->ac97->dev, "%d-%d:%s",