diff --git a/net/ipv4/devinet.c b/net/ipv4/devinet.c
index a35b72662e43..3b31f4bec30e 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/devinet.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/devinet.c
@@ -322,6 +322,8 @@ static void inetdev_destroy(struct in_device *in_dev)
 
 	in_dev->dead = 1;
 
+	RCU_INIT_POINTER(dev->ip_ptr, NULL);
+
 	ip_mc_destroy_dev(in_dev);
 
 	while ((ifa = rtnl_dereference(in_dev->ifa_list)) != NULL) {
@@ -329,8 +331,6 @@ static void inetdev_destroy(struct in_device *in_dev)
 		inet_free_ifa(ifa);
 	}
 
-	RCU_INIT_POINTER(dev->ip_ptr, NULL);
-
 	devinet_sysctl_unregister(in_dev);
 	neigh_parms_release(&arp_tbl, in_dev->arp_parms);
 	arp_ifdown(dev);