diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/nvidia/forcedeth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/nvidia/forcedeth.c
index 5b0435d7bc39..58d3e55def48 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/nvidia/forcedeth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/nvidia/forcedeth.c
@@ -6187,10 +6187,10 @@ static void nv_remove(struct pci_dev *pci_dev)
 	struct net_device *dev = pci_get_drvdata(pci_dev);
 	struct fe_priv *np = netdev_priv(dev);
 
-	free_percpu(np->txrx_stats);
-
 	unregister_netdev(dev);
 
+	free_percpu(np->txrx_stats);
+
 	nv_restore_mac_addr(pci_dev);
 
 	/* restore any phy related changes */