diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvb_frontend.c b/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvb_frontend.c
index daaf969719e4..d485d5f6cc88 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvb_frontend.c
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb-core/dvb_frontend.c
@@ -145,13 +145,14 @@ static void __dvb_frontend_free(struct dvb_frontend *fe)
 {
 	struct dvb_frontend_private *fepriv = fe->frontend_priv;
 
-	if (!fepriv)
-		return;
-
-	dvb_free_device(fepriv->dvbdev);
+	if (fepriv)
+		dvb_free_device(fepriv->dvbdev);
 
 	dvb_frontend_invoke_release(fe, fe->ops.release);
 
+	if (!fepriv)
+		return;
+
 	kfree(fepriv);
 	fe->frontend_priv = NULL;
 }