diff --git a/drivers/media/pci/cx18/cx18-alsa-pcm.c b/drivers/media/pci/cx18/cx18-alsa-pcm.c
index 205a98da877caa9db99ae21f11cf6c0c86434265..f68ee57a9ae2e570e2b904e3bc15ac9afc8f3a47 100644
--- a/drivers/media/pci/cx18/cx18-alsa-pcm.c
+++ b/drivers/media/pci/cx18/cx18-alsa-pcm.c
@@ -257,14 +257,16 @@ static int snd_cx18_pcm_hw_free(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream)
 {
 	struct snd_cx18_card *cxsc = snd_pcm_substream_chip(substream);
 	unsigned long flags;
+	unsigned char *dma_area = NULL;
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&cxsc->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(&cxsc->slock, flags);
+	vfree(dma_area);
 
 	return 0;
 }