diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c
index 0e98c3282d42fe546562454084469a680077847f..37e2b88313f26d0867cbd30c3f523043900a9fcf 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c
@@ -1113,6 +1113,10 @@ static void nf_ct_release_dying_list(struct net *net)
 
 static void nf_conntrack_cleanup_init_net(void)
 {
+	/* wait until all references to nf_conntrack_untracked are dropped */
+	while (atomic_read(&nf_conntrack_untracked.ct_general.use) > 1)
+		schedule();
+
 	nf_conntrack_helper_fini();
 	nf_conntrack_proto_fini();
 	kmem_cache_destroy(nf_conntrack_cachep);
@@ -1127,9 +1131,6 @@ static void nf_conntrack_cleanup_net(struct net *net)
 		schedule();
 		goto i_see_dead_people;
 	}
-	/* wait until all references to nf_conntrack_untracked are dropped */
-	while (atomic_read(&nf_conntrack_untracked.ct_general.use) > 1)
-		schedule();
 
 	nf_ct_free_hashtable(net->ct.hash, net->ct.hash_vmalloc,
 			     nf_conntrack_htable_size);
@@ -1288,6 +1289,14 @@ static int nf_conntrack_init_init_net(void)
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto err_helper;
 
+	/* Set up fake conntrack: to never be deleted, not in any hashes */
+#ifdef CONFIG_NET_NS
+	nf_conntrack_untracked.ct_net = &init_net;
+#endif
+	atomic_set(&nf_conntrack_untracked.ct_general.use, 1);
+	/*  - and look it like as a confirmed connection */
+	set_bit(IPS_CONFIRMED_BIT, &nf_conntrack_untracked.status);
+
 	return 0;
 
 err_helper:
@@ -1333,15 +1342,6 @@ static int nf_conntrack_init_net(struct net *net)
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto err_ecache;
 
-	/* Set up fake conntrack:
-	    - to never be deleted, not in any hashes */
-#ifdef CONFIG_NET_NS
-	nf_conntrack_untracked.ct_net = &init_net;
-#endif
-	atomic_set(&nf_conntrack_untracked.ct_general.use, 1);
-	/*  - and look it like as a confirmed connection */
-	set_bit(IPS_CONFIRMED_BIT, &nf_conntrack_untracked.status);
-
 	return 0;
 
 err_ecache: