diff --git a/drivers/regulator/max8973-regulator.c b/drivers/regulator/max8973-regulator.c
index e7a58b509032..9aee1444181d 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/max8973-regulator.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/max8973-regulator.c
@@ -808,7 +808,13 @@ static int max8973_probe(struct i2c_client *client,
 	config.of_node = client->dev.of_node;
 	config.regmap = max->regmap;
 
-	/* Register the regulators */
+	/*
+	 * Register the regulators
+	 * Turn the GPIO descriptor over to the regulator core for
+	 * lifecycle management if we pass an ena_gpiod.
+	 */
+	if (config.ena_gpiod)
+		devm_gpiod_unhinge(&client->dev, config.ena_gpiod);
 	rdev = devm_regulator_register(&client->dev, &max->desc, &config);
 	if (IS_ERR(rdev)) {
 		ret = PTR_ERR(rdev);