diff --git a/drivers/media/pci/ivtv/ivtv-alsa-pcm.c b/drivers/media/pci/ivtv/ivtv-alsa-pcm.c
index 807ead20d212f559072e49673cdeb1c6492c8dcb..417d03da01f02dad76830ef66f57cff60cddd9c7 100644
--- a/drivers/media/pci/ivtv/ivtv-alsa-pcm.c
+++ b/drivers/media/pci/ivtv/ivtv-alsa-pcm.c
@@ -262,14 +262,16 @@ static int snd_ivtv_pcm_hw_free(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream)
 {
 	struct snd_ivtv_card *itvsc = snd_pcm_substream_chip(substream);
 	unsigned long flags;
+	unsigned char *dma_area = NULL;
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&itvsc->slock, flags);
 	if (substream->runtime->dma_area) {
 		dprintk("freeing pcm capture region\n");
-		vfree(substream->runtime->dma_area);
+		dma_area = substream->runtime->dma_area;
 		substream->runtime->dma_area = NULL;
 	}
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&itvsc->slock, flags);
+	vfree(dma_area);
 
 	return 0;
 }