diff --git a/drivers/base/core.c b/drivers/base/core.c
index c852f16c111b..78114ddac755 100644
--- a/drivers/base/core.c
+++ b/drivers/base/core.c
@@ -4264,6 +4264,7 @@ static inline bool fwnode_is_primary(struct fwnode_handle *fwnode)
  */
 void set_primary_fwnode(struct device *dev, struct fwnode_handle *fwnode)
 {
+	struct device *parent = dev->parent;
 	struct fwnode_handle *fn = dev->fwnode;
 
 	if (fwnode) {
@@ -4278,7 +4279,8 @@ void set_primary_fwnode(struct device *dev, struct fwnode_handle *fwnode)
 	} else {
 		if (fwnode_is_primary(fn)) {
 			dev->fwnode = fn->secondary;
-			fn->secondary = NULL;
+			if (!(parent && fn == parent->fwnode))
+				fn->secondary = ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
 		} else {
 			dev->fwnode = NULL;
 		}