diff --git a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
index 5e2cdc25401bad4a76333fa969d73a2ac7d5fed6..709d687180bf86cfd5cd76bf1deffbc412e8b89a 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/rtl8712/usb_intf.c
@@ -623,13 +623,13 @@ static void r871xu_dev_remove(struct usb_interface *pusb_intf)
 	if (pnetdev) {
 		struct _adapter *padapter = netdev_priv(pnetdev);
 
+		unregister_netdev(pnetdev); /* will call netdev_close() */
 		usb_set_intfdata(pusb_intf, NULL);
 		release_firmware(padapter->fw);
 		/* never exit with a firmware callback pending */
 		wait_for_completion(&padapter->rtl8712_fw_ready);
 		if (drvpriv.drv_registered)
 			padapter->bSurpriseRemoved = true;
-		unregister_netdev(pnetdev); /* will call netdev_close() */
 		flush_scheduled_work();
 		udelay(1);
 		/* Stop driver mlme relation timer */