diff --git a/drivers/scsi/st.c b/drivers/scsi/st.c
index 307df2fa39a3821a378dc8f96a8796b79032c8d2..5078db7743cd08139b105cd48e46f936c36245cb 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/st.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/st.c
@@ -1265,8 +1265,8 @@ static int st_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 	spin_lock(&st_use_lock);
 	if (STp->in_use) {
 		spin_unlock(&st_use_lock);
-		scsi_tape_put(STp);
 		DEBC_printk(STp, "Device already in use.\n");
+		scsi_tape_put(STp);
 		return (-EBUSY);
 	}