diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
index 505ebeb643dc..cae04272deff 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
@@ -595,12 +595,12 @@ static void r871xu_dev_remove(struct usb_interface *pusb_intf)
 
 	/* never exit with a firmware callback pending */
 	wait_for_completion(&padapter->rtl8712_fw_ready);
+	if (pnetdev->reg_state != NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
+		unregister_netdev(pnetdev); /* will call netdev_close() */
 	usb_set_intfdata(pusb_intf, NULL);
 	release_firmware(padapter->fw);
 	if (drvpriv.drv_registered)
 		padapter->surprise_removed = true;
-	if (pnetdev->reg_state != NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
-		unregister_netdev(pnetdev); /* will call netdev_close() */
 	r8712_flush_rwctrl_works(padapter);
 	r8712_flush_led_works(padapter);
 	udelay(1);