diff --git a/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart.c b/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart.c
index 3f15c1e999..22373a48a5 100644
--- a/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart.c
+++ b/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart.c
@@ -326,3 +326,39 @@ int btuart_ioctl(FAR struct bt_driver_s *dev,
       return -ENOTTY;
     }
 }
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: btuart_register
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   Register the UART-based bluetooth driver.
+ *
+ * Input Parameters:
+ *   lower - an instance of the lower half driver interface
+ *
+ * Returned Value:
+ *   Zero is returned on success; a negated errno value is returned on any
+ *   failure.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+int btuart_register(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower)
+{
+  FAR struct bt_driver_s *driver;
+  int ret;
+
+  ret = btuart_create(lower, &driver);
+  if (ret < 0)
+    {
+      return ret;
+    }
+
+  ret = bt_netdev_register(driver);
+  if (ret < 0)
+    {
+      wlerr("ERROR: bt_netdev_register failed: %d\n", ret);
+      kmm_free(driver);
+    }
+
+  return ret;
+}
diff --git a/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_bcm4343x.c b/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_bcm4343x.c
index 3d9f91689c..fca7969a8f 100644
--- a/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_bcm4343x.c
+++ b/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_bcm4343x.c
@@ -379,10 +379,9 @@ load_bcm4343x_firmware_finished:
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 /****************************************************************************
- * Name: btuart_register
+ * Name: btuart_create
  *
- *   Create the UART-based Bluetooth device and register it with the
- *   Bluetooth stack.
+ *   Create the UART-based bluetooth device.
  *
  * Input Parameters:
  *   lower - an instance of the lower half driver interface
@@ -393,7 +392,8 @@ load_bcm4343x_firmware_finished:
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int btuart_register(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower)
+int btuart_create(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower,
+                  FAR struct bt_driver_s **driver)
 {
   FAR struct btuart_upperhalf_s *upper;
   int ret;
@@ -436,14 +436,6 @@ int btuart_register(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower)
       return -EINVAL;
     }
 
-  /* And register the driver with the network and the Bluetooth stack. */
-
-  ret = bt_netdev_register(&upper->dev);
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      wlerr("ERROR: bt_netdev_register failed: %d\n", ret);
-      kmm_free(upper);
-    }
-
+  *driver = &upper->dev;
   return ret;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_cc2564.c b/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_cc2564.c
index aa2c1da688..79fa40468a 100644
--- a/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_cc2564.c
+++ b/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_cc2564.c
@@ -145,11 +145,9 @@ int load_cc2564_firmware(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower)
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************
- * Name: btuart_register
+ * Name: btuart_create
  *
- * Description:
- *   Create the UART-based Bluetooth device and register it with the
- *   Bluetooth stack.
+ *   Create the UART-based bluetooth device.
  *
  * Input Parameters:
  *   lower - an instance of the lower half driver interface
@@ -160,7 +158,8 @@ int load_cc2564_firmware(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower)
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int btuart_register(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower)
+int btuart_create(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower,
+                  FAR struct bt_driver_s **driver)
 {
   FAR struct btuart_upperhalf_s *upper;
   int ret;
@@ -203,14 +202,6 @@ int btuart_register(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower)
       return -EINVAL;
     }
 
-  /* And register the driver with the network and the Bluetooth stack. */
-
-  ret = bt_netdev_register(&upper->dev);
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      wlerr("ERROR: bt_netdev_register failed: %d\n", ret);
-      kmm_free(upper);
-    }
-
+  *driver = &upper->dev;
   return ret;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_generic.c b/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_generic.c
index 6b462cf2ff..90255ae8c1 100644
--- a/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_generic.c
+++ b/drivers/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart_generic.c
@@ -39,11 +39,9 @@
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 /****************************************************************************
- * Name: btuart_register
+ * Name: btuart_create
  *
- * Description:
- *   Create the UART-based Bluetooth device and register it with the
- *   Bluetooth stack.
+ *   Create the UART-based bluetooth device.
  *
  * Input Parameters:
  *   lower - an instance of the lower half driver interface
@@ -54,10 +52,10 @@
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int btuart_register(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower)
+int btuart_create(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower,
+                  FAR struct bt_driver_s **driver)
 {
   FAR struct btuart_upperhalf_s *upper;
-  int ret;
 
   wlinfo("lower %p\n", lower);
 
@@ -87,14 +85,6 @@ int btuart_register(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower)
   upper->dev.ioctl        = btuart_ioctl;
   upper->lower            = lower;
 
-  /* And register the driver with the network and the Bluetooth stack. */
-
-  ret = bt_netdev_register(&upper->dev);
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      wlerr("ERROR: bt_netdev_registe failed: %d\n", ret);
-      kmm_free(upper);
-    }
-
-  return ret;
+  *driver = &upper->dev;
+  return OK;
 }
diff --git a/include/nuttx/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart.h b/include/nuttx/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart.h
index c74b6955a6..a6184e5115 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/wireless/bluetooth/bt_uart.h
@@ -148,12 +148,28 @@ struct btuart_lowerhalf_s
  * Public Function Prototypes
  ****************************************************************************/
 
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: btuart_create
+ *
+ *   Create the UART-based Bluetooth device.
+ *
+ * Input Parameters:
+ *   lower - an instance of the lower half driver interface
+ *
+ * Returned Value:
+ *   Zero is returned on success; a negated errno value is returned on any
+ *   failure.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+int btuart_create(FAR const struct btuart_lowerhalf_s *lower,
+                  FAR struct bt_driver_s **driver);
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: btuart_register
  *
  * Description:
- *   Create the generic UART-based Bluetooth device and register it with the
- *   Bluetooth stack.
+ *   Register the generic UART-based bluetooth driver.
  *
  * Input Parameters:
  *   lower - an instance of the lower half driver interface