diff --git a/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c b/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c
index 3b14e6e281d43507320f72d14a5397712ea48601..cc977d0cb2d917a292e1d27facb91849cf23d256 100644
--- a/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c
+++ b/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c
@@ -803,13 +803,13 @@ static void mkiss_close(struct tty_struct *tty)
 	 */
 	netif_stop_queue(ax->dev);
 
-	/* Free all AX25 frame buffers. */
-	kfree(ax->rbuff);
-	kfree(ax->xbuff);
-
 	ax->tty = NULL;
 
 	unregister_netdev(ax->dev);
+
+	/* Free all AX25 frame buffers. */
+	kfree(ax->rbuff);
+	kfree(ax->xbuff);
 }
 
 /* Perform I/O control on an active ax25 channel. */