diff --git a/drivers/block/nbd.c b/drivers/block/nbd.c
index 8704212482e5..4be8ae20d1da 100644
--- a/drivers/block/nbd.c
+++ b/drivers/block/nbd.c
@@ -2478,6 +2478,12 @@ static void __exit nbd_cleanup(void)
 	struct nbd_device *nbd;
 	LIST_HEAD(del_list);
 
+	/*
+	 * Unregister netlink interface prior to waiting
+	 * for the completion of netlink commands.
+	 */
+	genl_unregister_family(&nbd_genl_family);
+
 	nbd_dbg_close();
 
 	mutex_lock(&nbd_index_mutex);
@@ -2496,7 +2502,6 @@ static void __exit nbd_cleanup(void)
 	destroy_workqueue(nbd_del_wq);
 
 	idr_destroy(&nbd_index_idr);
-	genl_unregister_family(&nbd_genl_family);
 	unregister_blkdev(NBD_MAJOR, "nbd");
 }