diff --git a/sound/soc/soc-core.c b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
index aae099c0e502..754e3ef8d7ae 100644
--- a/sound/soc/soc-core.c
+++ b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
@@ -2286,6 +2286,9 @@ static int soc_cleanup_card_resources(struct snd_soc_card *card)
 	list_for_each_entry(rtd, &card->rtd_list, list)
 		flush_delayed_work(&rtd->delayed_work);
 
+	/* free the ALSA card at first; this syncs with pending operations */
+	snd_card_free(card->snd_card);
+
 	/* remove and free each DAI */
 	soc_remove_dai_links(card);
 	soc_remove_pcm_runtimes(card);
@@ -2300,9 +2303,7 @@ static int soc_cleanup_card_resources(struct snd_soc_card *card)
 	if (card->remove)
 		card->remove(card);
 
-	snd_card_free(card->snd_card);
 	return 0;
-
 }
 
 /* removes a socdev */