diff --git a/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c b/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c
index 99f86612f7751ad6d47b7abee8661e8deec2b0b2..88530a4952a9654b52fefab30445dd55f071d5ae 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c
@@ -657,12 +657,12 @@ int dasd_alias_remove_device(struct dasd_device *device)
 struct dasd_device *dasd_alias_get_start_dev(struct dasd_device *base_device)
 {
 	struct dasd_eckd_private *alias_priv, *private = base_device->private;
-	struct alias_pav_group *group = private->pavgroup;
 	struct alias_lcu *lcu = private->lcu;
 	struct dasd_device *alias_device;
+	struct alias_pav_group *group;
 	unsigned long flags;
 
-	if (!group || !lcu)
+	if (!lcu)
 		return NULL;
 	if (lcu->pav == NO_PAV ||
 	    lcu->flags & (NEED_UAC_UPDATE | UPDATE_PENDING))
@@ -679,6 +679,11 @@ struct dasd_device *dasd_alias_get_start_dev(struct dasd_device *base_device)
 	}
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&lcu->lock, flags);
+	group = private->pavgroup;
+	if (!group) {
+		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&lcu->lock, flags);
+		return NULL;
+	}
 	alias_device = group->next;
 	if (!alias_device) {
 		if (list_empty(&group->aliaslist)) {