diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index 01b66d802a6d221a1f39a2996d5b73ca145a5f9c..d5ce8d39e423b7400bba6c5e92460d8a4ae797b3 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -1606,11 +1606,11 @@ void bdrv_delete(BlockDriverState *bs)
     assert(!bs->job);
     assert(!bs->in_use);
 
+    bdrv_close(bs);
+
     /* remove from list, if necessary */
     bdrv_make_anon(bs);
 
-    bdrv_close(bs);
-
     g_free(bs);
 }