diff --git a/net/8021q/vlan.c b/net/8021q/vlan.c
index 69b4a352021f..b3d17d1c49c3 100644
--- a/net/8021q/vlan.c
+++ b/net/8021q/vlan.c
@@ -98,14 +98,14 @@ void unregister_vlan_dev(struct net_device *dev, struct list_head *head)
 		vlan_gvrp_request_leave(dev);
 
 	vlan_group_set_device(grp, vlan->vlan_proto, vlan_id, NULL);
+
+	netdev_upper_dev_unlink(real_dev, dev);
 	/* Because unregister_netdevice_queue() makes sure at least one rcu
 	 * grace period is respected before device freeing,
 	 * we dont need to call synchronize_net() here.
 	 */
 	unregister_netdevice_queue(dev, head);
 
-	netdev_upper_dev_unlink(real_dev, dev);
-
 	if (grp->nr_vlan_devs == 0) {
 		vlan_mvrp_uninit_applicant(real_dev);
 		vlan_gvrp_uninit_applicant(real_dev);