diff --git a/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-cdev.c b/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-cdev.c
index 55f640ef3fee..897d20996a8c 100644
--- a/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-cdev.c
+++ b/drivers/gpio/gpiolib-cdev.c
@@ -2860,9 +2860,9 @@ static int gpio_chrdev_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 	struct gpio_chardev_data *cdev = file->private_data;
 	struct gpio_device *gdev = cdev->gdev;
 
-	bitmap_free(cdev->watched_lines);
 	blocking_notifier_chain_unregister(&gdev->notifier,
 					   &cdev->lineinfo_changed_nb);
+	bitmap_free(cdev->watched_lines);
 	put_device(&gdev->dev);
 	kfree(cdev);