diff --git a/drivers/Makefile b/drivers/Makefile
index e121b66ef08..6326f4dbbda 100644
--- a/drivers/Makefile
+++ b/drivers/Makefile
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ obj-$(CONFIG_ARM_AMBA)		+= amba/
 
 obj-$(CONFIG_XEN)		+= xen/
 
+# regulators early, since some subsystems rely on them to initialize
+obj-$(CONFIG_REGULATOR)		+= regulator/
+
 # char/ comes before serial/ etc so that the VT console is the boot-time
 # default.
 obj-y				+= char/
@@ -101,5 +104,4 @@ obj-$(CONFIG_PPC_PS3)		+= ps3/
 obj-$(CONFIG_OF)		+= of/
 obj-$(CONFIG_SSB)		+= ssb/
 obj-$(CONFIG_VIRTIO)		+= virtio/
-obj-$(CONFIG_REGULATOR)		+= regulator/
 obj-$(CONFIG_STAGING)		+= staging/