diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index fe5f5855593db34cb4bc31e6a637b59b9041bb73..fab4899b83f745a3c13c982775e287b1ff2f547d 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -11593,8 +11593,6 @@ void free_netdev(struct net_device *dev)
                return;
        }
 
-       mutex_destroy(&dev->lock);
-
        kfree(dev->ethtool);
        netif_free_tx_queues(dev);
        netif_free_rx_queues(dev);
@@ -11621,6 +11619,8 @@ void free_netdev(struct net_device *dev)
 
        netdev_free_phy_link_topology(dev);
 
+       mutex_destroy(&dev->lock);
+
        /*  Compatibility with error handling in drivers */
        if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED ||
            dev->reg_state == NETREG_DUMMY) {