diff --git a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-common.c b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-common.c
index 36f8b60771be..e383db21c776 100644
--- a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-common.c
+++ b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-common.c
@@ -1,10 +1,76 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+
 
 #include <linux/module.h>
+#include <linux/of_device.h>
 
 #include "realtek.h"
 #include "realtek-common.h"
 
+static LIST_HEAD(realtek_variants_list);
+static DEFINE_MUTEX(realtek_variants_lock);
+
+void realtek_variant_register(struct realtek_variant_entry *var_ent)
+{
+	mutex_lock(&realtek_variants_lock);
+	list_add_tail(&var_ent->list, &realtek_variants_list);
+	mutex_unlock(&realtek_variants_lock);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(realtek_variant_register);
+
+void realtek_variant_unregister(struct realtek_variant_entry *var_ent)
+{
+	mutex_lock(&realtek_variants_lock);
+	list_del(&var_ent->list);
+	mutex_unlock(&realtek_variants_lock);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(realtek_variant_unregister);
+
+const struct realtek_variant *realtek_variant_get(
+		const struct of_device_id *match)
+{
+	const struct realtek_variant *var = ERR_PTR(-ENOENT);
+	struct realtek_variant_entry *var_ent;
+	const char *modname = match->data;
+
+	request_module(modname);
+
+	mutex_lock(&realtek_variants_lock);
+	list_for_each_entry(var_ent, &realtek_variants_list, list) {
+		const struct realtek_variant *tmp = var_ent->variant;
+
+		if (strcmp(match->compatible, var_ent->compatible))
+			continue;
+
+		if (!try_module_get(var_ent->owner))
+			break;
+
+		var = tmp;
+		break;
+	}
+	mutex_unlock(&realtek_variants_lock);
+
+	return var;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(realtek_variant_get);
+
+void realtek_variant_put(const struct realtek_variant *var)
+{
+	struct realtek_variant_entry *var_ent;
+
+	mutex_lock(&realtek_variants_lock);
+	list_for_each_entry(var_ent, &realtek_variants_list, list) {
+		if (var_ent->variant != var)
+			continue;
+
+		if (var_ent->owner)
+			module_put(var_ent->owner);
+
+		break;
+	}
+	mutex_unlock(&realtek_variants_lock);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(realtek_variant_put);
+
 void realtek_common_lock(void *ctx)
 {
 	struct realtek_priv *priv = ctx;
@@ -25,18 +91,30 @@ struct realtek_priv *realtek_common_probe(struct device *dev,
 		struct regmap_config rc, struct regmap_config rc_nolock)
 {
 	const struct realtek_variant *var;
+	const struct of_device_id *match;
 	struct realtek_priv *priv;
 	struct device_node *np;
 	int ret;
 
-	var = of_device_get_match_data(dev);
-	if (!var)
+	match = of_match_device(dev->driver->of_match_table, dev);
+	if (!match || !match->data)
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 
+	var = realtek_variant_get(match);
+	if (IS_ERR(var)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(var);
+		dev_err_probe(dev, ret,
+			      "failed to get module for '%s'. Is '%s' loaded?",
+			      match->compatible, match->data);
+		goto err_variant_put;
+	}
+
 	priv = devm_kzalloc(dev, size_add(sizeof(*priv), var->chip_data_sz),
 			    GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (!priv)
-		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
+	if (!priv) {
+		ret = -ENOMEM;
+		goto err_variant_put;
+	}
 
 	mutex_init(&priv->map_lock);
 
@@ -45,14 +123,14 @@ struct realtek_priv *realtek_common_probe(struct device *dev,
 	if (IS_ERR(priv->map)) {
 		ret = PTR_ERR(priv->map);
 		dev_err(dev, "regmap init failed: %d\n", ret);
-		return ERR_PTR(ret);
+		goto err_variant_put;
 	}
 
 	priv->map_nolock = devm_regmap_init(dev, NULL, priv, &rc_nolock);
 	if (IS_ERR(priv->map_nolock)) {
 		ret = PTR_ERR(priv->map_nolock);
 		dev_err(dev, "regmap init failed: %d\n", ret);
-		return ERR_PTR(ret);
+		goto err_variant_put;
 	}
 
 	/* Link forward and backward */
@@ -69,23 +147,27 @@ struct realtek_priv *realtek_common_probe(struct device *dev,
 
 	/* Fetch MDIO pins */
 	priv->mdc = devm_gpiod_get_optional(dev, "mdc", GPIOD_OUT_LOW);
-	if (IS_ERR(priv->mdc))
-		return ERR_CAST(priv->mdc);
+
+	if (IS_ERR(priv->mdc)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(priv->mdc);
+		goto err_variant_put;
+	}
 
 	priv->mdio = devm_gpiod_get_optional(dev, "mdio", GPIOD_OUT_LOW);
-	if (IS_ERR(priv->mdio))
-		return ERR_CAST(priv->mdio);
+	if (IS_ERR(priv->mdio)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(priv->mdio);
+		goto err_variant_put;
+	}
 
 	np = dev->of_node;
-
 	priv->leds_disabled = of_property_read_bool(np, "realtek,disable-leds");
 
 	/* TODO: if power is software controlled, set up any regulators here */
-
 	priv->reset = devm_gpiod_get_optional(dev, "reset", GPIOD_OUT_LOW);
 	if (IS_ERR(priv->reset)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(priv->reset);
 		dev_err(dev, "failed to get RESET GPIO\n");
-		return ERR_CAST(priv->reset);
+		goto err_variant_put;
 	}
 	if (priv->reset) {
 		gpiod_set_value(priv->reset, 1);
@@ -97,13 +179,20 @@ struct realtek_priv *realtek_common_probe(struct device *dev,
 	}
 
 	priv->ds = devm_kzalloc(dev, sizeof(*priv->ds), GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (!priv->ds)
-		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
+	if (!priv->ds) {
+		ret = -ENOMEM;
+		goto err_variant_put;
+	}
 
 	priv->ds->dev = dev;
 	priv->ds->priv = priv;
 
 	return priv;
+
+err_variant_put:
+	realtek_variant_put(var);
+
+	return ERR_PTR(ret);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(realtek_common_probe);
 
@@ -116,6 +205,8 @@ void realtek_common_remove(struct realtek_priv *priv)
 	if (priv->user_mii_bus)
 		of_node_put(priv->user_mii_bus->dev.of_node);
 
+	realtek_variant_put(priv->variant);
+
 	/* leave the device reset asserted */
 	if (priv->reset)
 		gpiod_set_value(priv->reset, 1);
@@ -124,10 +215,10 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(realtek_common_remove);
 
 const struct of_device_id realtek_common_of_match[] = {
 #if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_NET_DSA_REALTEK_RTL8366RB)
-	{ .compatible = "realtek,rtl8366rb", .data = &rtl8366rb_variant, },
+	{ .compatible = "realtek,rtl8366rb", .data = REALTEK_RTL8366RB_MODNAME, },
 #endif
 #if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_NET_DSA_REALTEK_RTL8365MB)
-	{ .compatible = "realtek,rtl8365mb", .data = &rtl8366rb_variant, },
+	{ .compatible = "realtek,rtl8365mb", .data = REALTEK_RTL8365MB_MODNAME, },
 #endif
 	{ /* sentinel */ },
 };
diff --git a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-common.h b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-common.h
index 90a949386518..089fda2d4fa9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-common.h
+++ b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-common.h
@@ -12,5 +12,8 @@ void realtek_common_unlock(void *ctx);
 struct realtek_priv *realtek_common_probe(struct device *dev,
 		struct regmap_config rc, struct regmap_config rc_nolock);
 void realtek_common_remove(struct realtek_priv *priv);
+const struct realtek_variant *realtek_variant_get(
+		const struct of_device_id *match);
+void realtek_variant_put(const struct realtek_variant *var);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-mdio.c b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-mdio.c
index 6f610386c977..6d81cd88dbe6 100644
--- a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-mdio.c
+++ b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-mdio.c
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ static int realtek_mdio_probe(struct mdio_device *mdiodev)
 	ret = priv->ops->detect(priv);
 	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(dev, "unable to detect switch\n");
-		return ret;
+		goto err_variant_put;
 	}
 
 	priv->ds->num_ports = priv->num_ports;
@@ -155,10 +155,15 @@ static int realtek_mdio_probe(struct mdio_device *mdiodev)
 	if (ret) {
 		dev_err_probe(dev, ret, "unable to register switch ret = %pe\n",
 			      ERR_PTR(ret));
-		return ret;
+		goto err_variant_put;
 	}
 
 	return 0;
+
+err_variant_put:
+	realtek_variant_put(priv->variant);
+
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static void realtek_mdio_remove(struct mdio_device *mdiodev)
diff --git a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-smi.c b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-smi.c
index 0cf89f9db99e..a772bb7dbe35 100644
--- a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-smi.c
+++ b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek-smi.c
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ static int realtek_smi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	ret = priv->ops->detect(priv);
 	if (ret) {
 		dev_err(dev, "unable to detect switch\n");
-		return ret;
+		goto err_variant_put;
 	}
 
 	priv->ds->num_ports = priv->num_ports;
@@ -422,10 +422,15 @@ static int realtek_smi_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	if (ret) {
 		dev_err_probe(dev, ret, "unable to register switch ret = %pe\n",
 			      ERR_PTR(ret));
-		return ret;
+		goto err_variant_put;
 	}
 
 	return 0;
+
+err_variant_put:
+	realtek_variant_put(priv->variant);
+
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static void realtek_smi_remove(struct platform_device *pdev)
diff --git a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek.h b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek.h
index 8d9d546bf5f5..f9bd6678e3bd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek.h
+++ b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/realtek.h
@@ -16,6 +16,38 @@
 #define REALTEK_HW_STOP_DELAY		25	/* msecs */
 #define REALTEK_HW_START_DELAY		100	/* msecs */
 
+#define REALTEK_RTL8365MB_MODNAME	"rtl8365mb"
+#define REALTEK_RTL8366RB_MODNAME	"rtl8366"
+
+struct realtek_variant_entry {
+	const struct realtek_variant *variant;
+	const char *compatible;
+	struct module *owner;
+	struct list_head list;
+};
+
+#define module_realtek_variant(__variant, __compatible)			\
+static struct realtek_variant_entry __variant ## _entry = {		\
+	.compatible = __compatible,					\
+	.variant = &(__variant),					\
+	.owner = THIS_MODULE,						\
+};									\
+static int __init realtek_variant_module_init(void)			\
+{									\
+	realtek_variant_register(&__variant ## _entry);			\
+	return 0;							\
+}									\
+module_init(realtek_variant_module_init)				\
+									\
+static void __exit realtek_variant_module_exit(void)			\
+{									\
+	realtek_variant_unregister(&__variant ## _entry);		\
+}									\
+module_exit(realtek_variant_module_exit)
+
+void realtek_variant_register(struct realtek_variant_entry *var_ent);
+void realtek_variant_unregister(struct realtek_variant_entry *var_ent);
+
 struct realtek_ops;
 struct dentry;
 struct inode;
@@ -120,6 +152,7 @@ struct realtek_ops {
 struct realtek_variant {
 	const struct dsa_switch_ops *ds_ops_smi;
 	const struct dsa_switch_ops *ds_ops_mdio;
+	const struct realtek_variant_info *info;
 	const struct realtek_ops *ops;
 	unsigned int clk_delay;
 	u8 cmd_read;
@@ -146,7 +179,4 @@ void rtl8366_get_strings(struct dsa_switch *ds, int port, u32 stringset,
 int rtl8366_get_sset_count(struct dsa_switch *ds, int port, int sset);
 void rtl8366_get_ethtool_stats(struct dsa_switch *ds, int port, uint64_t *data);
 
-extern const struct realtek_variant rtl8366rb_variant;
-extern const struct realtek_variant rtl8365mb_variant;
-
 #endif /*  _REALTEK_H */
diff --git a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/rtl8365mb.c b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/rtl8365mb.c
index 0875e4fc9f57..b5b22a4d01eb 100644
--- a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/rtl8365mb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/rtl8365mb.c
@@ -2163,7 +2163,7 @@ static const struct realtek_ops rtl8365mb_ops = {
 	.phy_write = rtl8365mb_phy_write,
 };
 
-const struct realtek_variant rtl8365mb_variant = {
+static const struct realtek_variant rtl8365mb_variant = {
 	.ds_ops_smi = &rtl8365mb_switch_ops_smi,
 	.ds_ops_mdio = &rtl8365mb_switch_ops_mdio,
 	.ops = &rtl8365mb_ops,
@@ -2172,7 +2172,7 @@ const struct realtek_variant rtl8365mb_variant = {
 	.cmd_write = 0xb8,
 	.chip_data_sz = sizeof(struct rtl8365mb),
 };
-EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(rtl8365mb_variant);
+module_realtek_variant(rtl8365mb_variant, "realtek,rtl8365mb");
 
 MODULE_AUTHOR("Alvin Šipraga <alsi@bang-olufsen.dk>");
 MODULE_DESCRIPTION("Driver for RTL8365MB-VC ethernet switch");
diff --git a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/rtl8366rb.c b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/rtl8366rb.c
index b39b719a5b8f..208a8f17a089 100644
--- a/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/rtl8366rb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/dsa/realtek/rtl8366rb.c
@@ -1911,7 +1911,7 @@ static const struct realtek_ops rtl8366rb_ops = {
 	.phy_write	= rtl8366rb_phy_write,
 };
 
-const struct realtek_variant rtl8366rb_variant = {
+static const struct realtek_variant rtl8366rb_variant = {
 	.ds_ops_smi = &rtl8366rb_switch_ops_smi,
 	.ds_ops_mdio = &rtl8366rb_switch_ops_mdio,
 	.ops = &rtl8366rb_ops,
@@ -1920,7 +1920,7 @@ const struct realtek_variant rtl8366rb_variant = {
 	.cmd_write = 0xa8,
 	.chip_data_sz = sizeof(struct rtl8366rb),
 };
-EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(rtl8366rb_variant);
+module_realtek_variant(rtl8366rb_variant, "realtek,rtl8366rb");
 
 MODULE_AUTHOR("Linus Walleij <linus.walleij@linaro.org>");
 MODULE_DESCRIPTION("Driver for RTL8366RB ethernet switch");
