diff --git a/drivers/net/hippi/rrunner.c b/drivers/net/hippi/rrunner.c
index 95c0b45a68fb..313e006f74fe 100644
--- a/drivers/net/hippi/rrunner.c
+++ b/drivers/net/hippi/rrunner.c
@@ -1381,8 +1381,8 @@ static int rr_close(struct net_device *dev)
 			    rrpriv->info_dma);
 	rrpriv->info = NULL;
 
-	free_irq(pdev->irq, dev);
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&rrpriv->lock, flags);
+	free_irq(pdev->irq, dev);
 
 	return 0;
 }