diff --git a/net/netrom/nr_route.c b/net/netrom/nr_route.c
index b94cb2ffbaf8..a9ae329d598e 100644
--- a/net/netrom/nr_route.c
+++ b/net/netrom/nr_route.c
@@ -331,7 +331,6 @@ static int nr_del_node(ax25_address *callsign, ax25_address *neighbour, struct n
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	spin_lock_bh(&nr_node_list_lock);
 	nr_node_lock(nr_node);
 	for (i = 0; i < nr_node->count; i++) {
 		if (nr_node->routes[i].neighbour == nr_neigh) {
@@ -345,7 +344,9 @@ static int nr_del_node(ax25_address *callsign, ax25_address *neighbour, struct n
 			nr_node->count--;
 
 			if (nr_node->count == 0) {
+				spin_lock_bh(&nr_node_list_lock);
 				nr_remove_node_locked(nr_node);
+				spin_unlock_bh(&nr_node_list_lock);
 			} else {
 				switch (i) {
 				case 0:
@@ -360,14 +361,12 @@ static int nr_del_node(ax25_address *callsign, ax25_address *neighbour, struct n
 				nr_node_put(nr_node);
 			}
 			nr_node_unlock(nr_node);
-			spin_unlock_bh(&nr_node_list_lock);
 
 			return 0;
 		}
 	}
 	nr_neigh_put(nr_neigh);
 	nr_node_unlock(nr_node);
-	spin_unlock_bh(&nr_node_list_lock);
 	nr_node_put(nr_node);
 
 	return -EINVAL;